I was at AngelHack. Not as a competitor though; I was there for API support. Chikka (a.k.a., where I work right now) exposed its mobile charging API for the developers to use. The API somehow falls into my responsibilities so I was there.
But this post isn’t about the experience, nor about our API, nor about how we had to reconfigure our backend set-up just a few hours before the coders started hacking because of some “logistical oversights”. The point I want to make here is about something that is only remotely related to AngelHack. I want to point to this article from the thought-provoking Aeon Magazine which basically asks if we (developers) are worth the hype accorded to us. It makes for a nice post-AngelHack reading especially as AngelHack is basically the search for the possible next big thing for geeks.
As a footnote, I quote from this advice found from Learn Ruby the Hard Way1:
Programming as a profession is only moderately interesting. It can be a good job, but you could make about the same money and be happier running a fast food joint. You’re much better off using code as your secret weapon in another profession.
People who can code in the world of technology companies are a dime a dozen and get no respect. People who can code in biology, medicine, government, sociology, physics, history, and mathematics are respected and can do amazing things to advance those disciplines.
Really makes you think. Interesting food for thought.
- No. I am not actually learning Ruby. [↩]