Conversation

A conversation today reminded me of something: I have come to see speaking badly about ones users as a sign of a bad programmer.

Disengagement, cynicism, callousness, suspicion… these things make bad software.

Simultaneously our industry has elevated these traits as signs of “rationality”.

Caring, empathy, curiosity, engagement, learning, compassion… these things make good software.

And they don’t get the hype they deserve.

Aside, but important: in my experience, disengagement especially, but also to some extent the others, are often an early warning sign of burnout. So if you feel you’re slipping into that, maybe get someone you can talk to, there might be more going on than you realize.