Coders that Get Angry at Code
I was looking a few things up today and I could not help but hear a nearby coder getting angry at the code he was writing. Actually thinking that the code was disobeying him. I'm the first to admit that I've gotten mad while looking at code - most often at the guy who wrote the mess I was forced to fix, but to actually get mad at the code is something I find very funny.
I've always liked coding because it's about the only place in the world where what I asked for was done - without argument, exception, grief, or hassle. I mean really - people are far far more difficult to deal with than a machine. So in terms of frustration, coding is about as stress-free as things come. Oh sure, deadlines are a drag... trying to do more with less... there's a ton of ways to make any job a pain in the neck. But those are reasons to get irked regardless of the job.
It's like a carpenter getting mad at a hammer. It's a hammer - if you don't like what it's doing, hit something else. Don't get mad at the hammer. But I have worked around this particular coder for quite a while, and he's got talent, but he misses the boat when it comes to drive, commitment, and really enjoying the job.
I think he'd rather be somewhere else, but he took this job because it paid significantly better than his last job. I can't blame a guy for making a buck, but if that's the only reason you took the job, it's not going to be long before you realize you aren't really happy and you'll find another job.