Comments on: Directions http://third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html Data is ones and zeroes | Software is ones and zeroes and hard work. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:07:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Third Bit » Blog Archive » Where the Time Goes http://third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1805 The Third Bit » Blog Archive » Where the Time Goes Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:17:15 +0000 http://pyre.third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1805 [...] OK, so what am I doing if I’m not coding? [...] [...] OK, so what am I doing if I’m not coding? [...]

]]> By: John http://third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1804 John Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:30:50 +0000 http://pyre.third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1804 The other day I was thinking that you were the only professor I've seen, blogging about his student projects. I attributed it to the better Canadian university system than we have here in the states where virtually all professors have become the overpaid, behind the times, "grant writers" - just what you see yourself slipping into. And thanks to the utterly destructive tenure system and peer hiring, the "grant writers" have clogged the system leaving little room for any new, fresh talent, ideas, or even those of us who have too much "practical" experience (which in truth means we just embarrass the full-time "grant writers"). If I were fortunate enough to be in your shoes, I would try for larger "block" type grants, maybe from private corporations - ie "Google Teachers of Code" :) And then use these for brand new technologies that would be fun to have your students working on. Aim to support maybe 3-5 students max so you maybe only have to get 1-2 grants per year and can simply set aside one "grant writing" month a year, with the rest of the time teaching, blogging, and presenting the new technologies around the world. But that may not be enough to get tenure - sad to say. The other day I was thinking that you were the only professor I’ve seen, blogging about his student projects. I attributed it to the better Canadian university system than we have here in the states where virtually all professors have become the overpaid, behind the times, “grant writers” – just what you see yourself slipping into. And thanks to the utterly destructive tenure system and peer hiring, the “grant writers” have clogged the system leaving little room for any new, fresh talent, ideas, or even those of us who have too much “practical” experience (which in truth means we just embarrass the full-time “grant writers”).

If I were fortunate enough to be in your shoes, I would try for larger “block” type grants, maybe from private corporations – ie “Google Teachers of Code” :) And then use these for brand new technologies that would be fun to have your students working on. Aim to support maybe 3-5 students max so you maybe only have to get 1-2 grants per year and can simply set aside one “grant writing” month a year, with the rest of the time teaching, blogging, and presenting the new technologies around the world. But that may not be enough to get tenure – sad to say.

]]> By: Matt Doar http://third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1803 Matt Doar Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:19:21 +0000 http://pyre.third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1803 My advice would be not to pine for the past, which surely had its own drawbacks anyway. Look for ways to spend your time that you enjoy, and also pay the mortgage. Don't let what people expect you to be stop you doing what you actually enjoy. I'm enjoying being a toolsmith. Is that what I ought to be doing with a Ph.D.? Sure! My advice would be not to pine for the past, which surely had its own drawbacks anyway. Look for ways to spend your time that you enjoy, and also pay the mortgage. Don’t let what people expect you to be stop you doing what you actually enjoy.

I’m enjoying being a toolsmith. Is that what I ought to be doing with a Ph.D.? Sure!

]]> By: David http://third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1802 David Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:37:34 +0000 http://pyre.third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1802 I think its very important to keep your hands dirty. Most of my role these days is spent managing four developers, dealing with customer support, and dealing with marketing and senior management. I make sure I still allocate myself little jobs that aren't on the critical path, so that when I am snowed under, it doesn't impact the project as a whole, but it does mean my hands stay dirty. I had previous experience where I was in a 100% management role with "clean hands", and I never felt comfortable or happy. It felt very unhealthy and you quickly lose touch on how difficult/challenging programming can really be. I think its very important to keep your hands dirty. Most of my role these days is spent managing four developers, dealing with customer support, and dealing with marketing and senior management.

I make sure I still allocate myself little jobs that aren’t on the critical path, so that when I am snowed under, it doesn’t impact the project as a whole, but it does mean my hands stay dirty.

I had previous experience where I was in a 100% management role with “clean hands”, and I never felt comfortable or happy. It felt very unhealthy and you quickly lose touch on how difficult/challenging programming can really be.

]]> By: Serguei http://third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1801 Serguei Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:24:08 +0000 http://pyre.third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1801 The good idea might be to inventorize available 65 y.o. professors and get heads-up from those of them whose lifestyle you like - what makes them tick :) The good idea might be to inventorize available 65 y.o. professors and get heads-up from those of them whose lifestyle you like – what makes them tick :)

]]> By: Peter http://third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1800 Peter Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:51:31 +0000 http://pyre.third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1800 Greg, I have a sort of not at all similar position :) But I've thought about the same kind of problem space for a couple of years now. Not being an academic, my option was to turn into a garden gnome being surprisingly old and good for nothing. That kind of future cranked up my mid-life crisis engines (If I only get 60-70 years old, who knows? :). And at the same time I fell in love with a silly, disreputable language called JavaScript. Shortly after that I found Dojo, and got an epiphany (Don't use server-side web frameworks). So, I'm knee-deep in code every day; For my client, for my friends, for voluntary work and some interesting side-projects, and a book, and so on. I even finish stuff sometimes, leaving mile-long wreckage along most of the time. It feels a bit like batman - the dark knight. Minus cape, strength and cunning :) So, I appreciate your position - sort of, I think. My recommendation would be to try to pick up something that you really, really like but feel constrained by fashion or context to dig into. Who knows, it might be cool again soon, just like JS :) Cheers, PS Greg, I have a sort of not at all similar position :) But I’ve thought about the same kind of problem space for a couple of years now.

Not being an academic, my option was to turn into a garden gnome being surprisingly old and good for nothing. That kind of future cranked up my mid-life crisis engines (If I only get 60-70 years old, who knows? :) .

And at the same time I fell in love with a silly, disreputable language called JavaScript. Shortly after that I found Dojo, and got an epiphany (Don’t use server-side web frameworks).

So, I’m knee-deep in code every day; For my client, for my friends, for voluntary work and some interesting side-projects, and a book, and so on. I even finish stuff sometimes, leaving mile-long wreckage along most of the time. It feels a bit like batman – the dark knight. Minus cape, strength and cunning :)

So, I appreciate your position – sort of, I think. My recommendation would be to try to pick up something that you really, really like but feel constrained by fashion or context to dig into. Who knows, it might be cool again soon, just like JS :)

Cheers,
PS

]]> By: zgoda http://third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1799 zgoda Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:41:22 +0000 http://pyre.third-bit.com/blog/archives/1593.html#comment-1799 That's it. I'm 37 and I'm still writing code. Few years ago I told myself I'm gonna leave coding when I'm 40, but I cann't see any satisfactory job I could do after all these years in hot of developer's room. Project management is specifically the thing I do not want to do. So, what now? I gues I'll be writing code for any foreseeable future. ;) That’s it. I’m 37 and I’m still writing code. Few years ago I told myself I’m gonna leave coding when I’m 40, but I cann’t see any satisfactory job I could do after all these years in hot of developer’s room. Project management is specifically the thing I do not want to do.
So, what now? I gues I’ll be writing code for any foreseeable future. ;)

]]>