I like coding. I hate shipping software.
2010/02/23
It only took me 12 years to figure this out.
Shipping has all the worst elements of development:
- translating
- documenting
- testing
- DLL hell
- install scripts
- customers
- marketing
Coding has all the best:
- Talking with other developers
- white boards
- new tech
- compilers
- crazy features
- jokes in comments
- feelings of accomplishment.
- satisfying diff emails
You need the side project even if you never tell anyone about it. It’s an outlet. I guess that’s why I have so many unfinished projects. I hate finishing them. I’ve proven to several big companies, that for a small fee, I can finish software projects. Ship them, support them, etc… etc… But why go through all that for my own projects? I’m not doing it for you, I’m doing it for me. It’s open source so others can jump in if they like, but at the end of the day, my project is a place to unwind. Try new code, try new tech, or maybe try out some new GUI toolkit because I want to learn more about how they work.
I feel better now.
Trey Stout
2010/02/23 at 6:16 PM
Right on, personal projects are supposed to be all fun and nothing else. Besides, if you really click with one, you’ll see to it that it’s finished and polished, even if it takes 10 years (or more) of on and off effort
2010/02/23 at 6:19 PM
So feelings of accomplishment aren’t associated with shipping?
Ouch.
Shipping software is the best part. Its a materialization of a concept you or your company created. Not only that, but you’re making someones life better. Even in stupid business apps. Your filling a need. That’s not fulfilling?
2010/02/23 at 6:31 PM
Damn right! Damn right.
2010/02/23 at 7:13 PM
If you’re doing it right, documenting and testing is part of the first steps of coding.
2010/02/23 at 7:28 PM
The trick is to do it right the first time and spend time up front. Make the features that you are putting in rock solid so you can build on them later. I enjoy shipping software. I get a sense of pride from giving customers a “finished” product. I do not enjoy getting software ready to ship
2010/02/23 at 11:42 PM
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2009/09/23.html
“At the end of the day, ship the fucking thing! It’s great to rewrite your code and make it cleaner and by the third time it’ll actually be pretty. But that’s not the point—you’re not here to write code; you’re here to ship products.”
2010/02/24 at 12:15 AM
[...] Trey Stout says that shipping has all the worst elements of development, namely: [...]
2010/02/24 at 1:53 AM
Shipping, if successful, has good side too: happy users.
I wish there were groupies too, but unfortunately programming is not that kind of business ;(
2010/02/24 at 6:34 AM
Damn right! Damn Right!
Oh someone already said that.. programmers mind it tell ya!
2010/02/24 at 9:58 AM
I don’t think the issue is in your Project Management skills, but your immediate prioritization (which is related to motivation). It’s probably much easier to motivate others than to motivate one’s self, especially when it comes to your own projects (that may or may not make money).
2010/02/25 at 4:07 PM
[...] I like coding. I hate shipping software. It only took me 12 years to figure this out. [...]
2010/02/26 at 8:17 AM
Hi, possibly i’m being a slightly off topic here, but I was browsing your site and it looks stimulating. I’m making a blog and trying to make it look clean, but everytime I touch it I mess something up. Did you design the blog yourself? Could someone with little experience do it, and add updates without messing it up? Anyways, good information on here, very useful.
2010/02/26 at 10:54 AM
Nah this template is a standard option for WordPress blogs. Alas, I am not much of a visual designer.
2010/03/01 at 3:57 AM
That’s why Onan never married….
2010/03/17 at 2:09 AM
“Real artists ship.”
2010/04/28 at 3:29 PM
I like coding, but I really like shipping software. Sorry, but I disagree with this post. I prefer to see my hard work go to use, and the only real way to do that is by shipping a product.
I’m far more proud of a polished, well-rounded product than a piece of nice code.