Impatience: The Key Indicator for a Deviant Career Path in Software Engineering

Introduction

Every profession has its unique challenges, and software engineering is no exception. Many of us who are drawn to programming and development share a common characteristic: an ability to endure long stretches of work with little immediate return. This article will explore the implications of impatience in software engineering, examining whether it may signal that a career in this field might not be the best fit.

Beyond the Stereotypes

The stereotype of a professional programmer often includes solitary and socially awkward individuals or a hyperactive partygoer, yet there is a singular trait that unites us all - a willingness to dedicate disproportionate time to solving complex problems. This dedication often manifests in moments of intense focus and frustration before a sudden breakthrough.

Professor's Quote

A university professor summarized the nature of programming work succinctly: 'A programmer’s job is like this: You spend 10% of the time writing the program and 90% trying to find the error.' This highlights the iterative and challenging nature of software development, where the majority of time is spent debugging and refining code rather than creating it.

Company Coworker's Insight

Another quote from a non-programmer colleague shared during my early days at work further emphasizes the unique mindset required for programmers. 'You programmers aren’t ordinary people. Someone who stares for hours at a screen full of random characters without saying a word and suddenly exclaims: “I got it” with a big smile on his face can’t be normal.' This statement captures the intensity and the sudden joy of solving a puzzle that has baffled you for hours.

Another Professor's Perspective

A third quote from a university professor adds another dimension to this discussion. 'We experience 2 opposite feelings when facing a problem: First we don’t understand it and we think we will never do. But then after we get it we can’t understand how we couldn’t understand it in the first place.' This encapsulates the frustration and the thrill of finally cracking a difficult problem.

Impatience as a Red Flag

In my opinion, IMPATIENCE is the most accurate indicator that a person may not be suited for a career as a software developer. Impatience in this context means a lack of endurance and a desire for quick and immediate results, which can be detrimental to long-term project success in software engineering.

When the Fun Dies Down

One of the most critical skills in software engineering is the ability to find joy and fulfillment in the intellectual challenge that the work represents. If a programmer lacks patience and finds the job unenjoyable due to the constant need for problem-solving and bug-fixing, it can be a sign that the career may not be a good fit. If the tedious tasks (often referred to as 'scut work') exceed the intellectually stimulating parts, it’s time to reassess.

Addressing Scut Work

My wife often reminds me that any job involves some level of menial or less exciting tasks. It’s virtually impossible to escape from these responsibilities, especially in a technical field. However, if this 'scut work' outweighs the fun and satisfaction of problem-solving, it could signal a desire to shift to a different role or a company where the workload is better balanced.

For example, if you transitioned from an individual contributor to a management position and found that you don’t enjoy the responsibility and decision-making, it might be time to go back to the individual contributor role. Similarly, if you are an individual contributor but really crave the control and impact of a managerial position, it’s a good idea to make that switch.

Conclusion

In conclusion, impatience, or a lack of long-term endurance, can be an important sign that a person may not be well-suited for a career in software engineering. While software development is a challenging and rewarding field, it requires a unique blend of patience, persistence, and problem-solving skills. If you find that patience and enjoyment are increasingly elusive in your work, it might be worth considering a different career path.