HACKER Q&A
📣 john_the_writer

After 20 years coding, how does one level up?


I've been programming for a bit north of 20 years. I started on c++, did a bit of assembly, and a bit of Java. I stumbled into rails about 10 years ago, and did some React and some Elixir.

So the real question. What do we do next? What do we do once we've done it. Coding in Rails and Elixir is only a challenge when I get irked, but it's not a real mystery.

Where do we go? Where have you gone? Once you get there.


  👤 qwertyuiop12 Accepted Answer ✓
A language is only a tool. Try different approaches like composition over inheritance ( I created a method in TypeScript to create mixins/traits in order to migrate non-sense OOP patterns that I did in a few projects ), patterns that you didn’t apply before… also you can look for DDD ( and its “patterns” ).

Or start new projects for your own curiosity. I implemented a cache policy recently and I learned -tried- to develop different parts of an OS.


👤 pg_1234
Focus on domain knowledge.

The reality is you only need to become competent with the tool (code), thereafter you are better off achieving excellence in how you apply it (business domain), which will typically require some non-tech specialisation.

Just find an industry niche where you care about what you're coding for, it doesn't have to be some grand cause, just what grabs your interest.


👤 simonblack
'A little bit of COBOL in my life, a little bit of JavaScript by my side , .... '

👤 brudgers
Maybe find another passion and let programming be your day job?

Go to grad school?

Lisp?

Electrical Engineering?

Management?

What do you want to do?

Good luck.