(This was a meetup talk/discussion, here for people who would have wanted to attend but couldn't and want to read the intro to ask follow-up questions.)
As a software developer, I've been on and off many projects over the years - different role on the same project, another project in the same company, and sometimes it's time to switch companies.
It's a balance of what gives and takes my mental energy at work..
+ focus on real user problems
- starting from a solution, finding a problem that fits
+ clear steps forward
+ defined-enough scope before implementation
- multiple stakeholders who all need to review code/design/test/product fit and one of them doesn't have time, but comes back few days later to reopen an issue
- merge conflicts between my own 6 PRs, because someone else renamed a folder and I modified files with multiple features that all wait for reviews
+ quick review and merge, next iteration in next ticket
+ boring technology that solves a problem
+ new technology that solves a problem
- new technology because someone was a hype junkie
+ simple to start, infinite to master
- learning cliff to start, then boring while impossible to remember random config
- interviews with 5 rounds / whole-day project / recording myself how I explain my thinking into the void
+ just hopping on a project with ex-colleagues / friends
..and about what I can do to keep the balance positive at a given environment. It's mostly about prevention, I have never collapsed from burnout yet, but many times, it's been less fun than I would have wanted.
(This was a meetup talk/discussion, here for people who would have wanted to attend but couldn't and want to read the intro to ask follow-up questions.)
As a software developer, I've been on and off many projects over the years - different role on the same project, another project in the same company, and sometimes it's time to switch companies.
It's a balance of what gives and takes my mental energy at work..
..and about what I can do to keep the balance positive at a given environment. It's mostly about prevention, I have never collapsed from burnout yet, but many times, it's been less fun than I would have wanted.
Questions?