Extroversion and programming
I have been wondering..since when did software development became an extroverted profession?
Organizations promote open floor plans, free sitting arrangements or lack of it. Few weeks ago, 3 of us developers couldn’t find a desk to work and ended up in a meeting room with a small desk.
When did noise become the norm? Choose your weapons, earplugs, headphones, etc.
I liked my previous work place in Intel Malaysia where they had grey cubicles that were taller than a person. Yes its a maze but one can concentrate.
I liked in CGM Uppsala we had a big room but the developers had walls behind our backs and our own personal space. We didn’t breathe in each others breath and body odor.
Get 3rd-Rock-from-the-sun’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
And there’s many others that did just as well. But these few years, the common open plans disturb neurodivergent people. And from my observation, there are many many people affected.
After work events, those was optional but its slowly becoming an obligation. Meeting to talk about the meetings to talk about a topic. Routines and way of working takes over the actual work.
I really love it when people work away from office. My mentor Mischa works from his van driving and visiting different places in Europe. Remote working from home that was common during covid is now slowly retracted. I mean I like seeing my colleagues but I wonder why seeing them is no longer my choice. Sweden being in the forefront of private and work balance but it IS happening here too. *sad
Where and how a developer works was never an issue before. ZIRU wrote here about coding from his bed and remote control to claude.
Linus Torvalds and first community who maintained the first versions of linux..had a developer who was filmed lying on bed coding. Linus worked from home, Bill Gates a garage, Mark Z. a dorm room, Elon Musk a small office during paypal times.
AI makes us more creative and more curious. Developers don’t need micromanagement. We need a good working environment, support and clear goals. Our good environment : an individual preference.
This is a rant of a disturbed soul after midnight. Happy coding!
