Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43497159

Points: 5

# Comments: 1

I'm looking to switch to a new browser. One that supports extensions (my most needed are password manager, ad blockers, and if possible something similar to containers in FF). Access to developer tools is also important as I make websites.

What browser do you use that respects your privacy?

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43264693

Points: 2

# Comments: 7

I kind of dislike the fact that Google uses pictures to train their models, but I can't discard the usefulness of being able to share (and participate) in the photos ecosystem with my family and friends.

iCloud is nice for solo use, but useless in terms of sharing with others, especially outside Apple ecosystem (and inside the ecosystem, its a pain as well).

Both are terrible at taking out the data. Apple requires using custom made tools, or exporting/downloading chunks (in case the entire photo library does not fit the disk). Google has Google Takeout which dumps the photos and the metadata in separate files, requiring a 3rd party tool to merge them back (been there, done that, not fun).

Self hosted options are too much hassle. They require maintaining them and are not available "on-the-go", unless one decides to setup VPN, meaning more maintenance. And good luck convincing family members to use your home-baked solution.

Between the two major clouds, what do you use and what would you recommend: iCloud photos or Google Photos?

Ignore backups for now, obviously both require a 3-2-1 backup solution to be complete and fail-proof.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43170450

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

The interviewing process should evaluate my knowledge as required by the job description, and not to play a role in satisfying the ego of the interviewer(s).

So yes, while I did refresh my memory on Big-O notation, and ran through some common brain teasers, I'm not going to read books and invest 3 months of sleepless nights in order to get the opportunity to be a cog in FAANG.

So it would be something like a line of people who are willing to hire my services, while I decide what to work on and how to do it.

> That's the mind virus that the CEOs want you to have.

What do you mean by that?

I'm in a family-like company, so there is not much feedback giving. I'm trying to change a job, but there are few struggles: (1) I can't really improve salary that much due to OP, (2) the market is currently shit, (3) even if I find a job, it sets me back to square zero.

> Is this because you don't (or haven't had opportunities to) step up to lead/own chunks of work?

I did lead/own chunks of work. But it just seems not enough to justify leadership roles. I get the "it's impressive, but we need someone a BIT MORE qualified".

> Do you plan to do anything about this? It's hard to advance without some amount of self-improvement?

When I was younger, I dabbled in many areas: game dev, web dev, os dev, embedded, assembly, C, Java, JS, PHP, etc. Eventually I found my career and my niche, but due to certain luck (or lack thereof), combined with my young naivety, I didn't progress fast enough to the style of companies that deal with high load, and other mambo-jumbo tech. And now, I just have a lot of years of experience in mediocre companies/products.

> Are you saying that you're motivated enough to try to bootstrap multiple projects, and have started a SaaS that actually has paying customers?

I do. I have a lot of motivation when it comes to actually solve problems. I talk with customers, do development, and try to find new ways to market my SaaS. I just hate doing to for someone else when corporate politics is involved.

My only option is to jump between jobs and swim in somewhat the same salary range, until AI will replace me, which is far from ideal. I have a SaaS that generates pennies, and I have no idea how to scale it further. I don't have the skills or time to raise money and start my own company. I tried to bootstrap some projects, but most of them are hit and miss (more on the miss side).

I would love to switch to being self-employed either via consultancy or having my own business, but I can't seem to figure out how to make the switch.

Anyone got any suggestions how I can take my career to the next step which will provide me with (1) more autonomy over my time and my work and (2) more money?

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43077340

Points: 31

# Comments: 33

And it amazes me how many people can't seem to see past the "US is good, everyone else are bad" smoke mirror.

Is freelancing really that different? I keep hearing opinion for both sides ranging from "freelancing is truly different" to "freelancing is corporate/office job in disguise".

Of course I learned long time ago that there is zero correlation between my knowledge and getting a job, and in anyway the amount of companies I want to work at, can be counted on one hand (and most of them rejected me anyways, but I guess it would turn out to be the same feeling eventually).

Longer version: I'm in tech for almost two decades now. My first job ended after long tenure by the end of which I was barely doing anything, so I quit. Next job I was fired along with most of the company due to layoffs. Third company again long tenure, loss of motivation somewhere in the middle. Kept grinding until eventually got mentally sick from the place, so I quit.

Next one, same story, but this time shorter. After about a year, got sick of the place again, so I quit. Took a break, found another job, and now reaching the same mark of becoming mentally sick after about 9 months.

I tried to build something of my own, but my mental energy is below zero by the end of the work day, so I barely have time to focus/write code for my own projects.

I realize now that changing jobs won't help. Its a temporary solution for the first 6-9 months, afterwards I will find myself in the same place. Can't take sabbatical as I have responsibilities to my family. Drastic career change is not an option as I'm past my thirties, and coding is the only thing I can do.

I tried all company sizes from super small startups, to mid sized startups, to big corporate. All kinds of work environments: full time from the office, to hybrid, to fully remote; demanding job with on-call schedules and overtime, all the way to permissive schedule with great work/life balance.

I have a good sleep, and eat good. I train every day. But I just can't see myself staying in tech for another two-three decades till retirement. Suggestions?

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42172529

Points: 4

# Comments: 13

But then there is a change in the company/team, and they decide to switch to a new tech stack. You don't know this tech stack, you don't like it, and it has little prospect for future employment (think: old/not popular stack).

Would you quit/start looking for a new job immediately? Would you give it a try first and see how it goes?

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41777457

Points: 4

# Comments: 6

I've been in SEA and well as Central America. It does open your eyes a lot on how broken the western system is, and makes you appreciate what you have, more.

The problem is that, rather quickly, it goes away. You come back to your western part of the world, and you write posts like mine, where there are clearly people who have it worse. So thanks for reminding me about this.

> Why do you think building a business will fix the problem you feel?

It wont.

But it will solve one aspect of (lack of) independence -- the soul crashing 9-5 and working with people. I don't want to go length into my view of the tech industry and how I consider most of it an inefficient cog machine mixed with human psychology, but getting rid of it by creating a business which can be run on it's own -- will improve my quality of life significantly.

For example: there is no logical sense at all to work 9-5, 5 days a week from Mo-Fr, in an office. By having my business I can train in the morning and then work 12 to 8. I can take Monday off (without asking for permission). I can work from home or cafe, or a park. I get to build the lifestyle I want rather than conforming to some 1890s factory idea of the 9 to 5.

Another example: there is no need to have 15 people teams with idiotic daily standups. By building my own business, I get to work with only myself (yay), and some other people to whom I can outsource things I'm not good at, and not waste time on idiotic corporate rituals.

And as for McDonalnds, well, I been in the tech industry for over a decade now. That's what I know. I don't know anything about store locations, managing staff and stock. Sure I can learn, but it's smarter to leverage my existing knowledge rather than starting from 0. And also a physical business means more exposure to working with other people, and a more typical hierarchical structure.

This blew up fast. I'll provide more context in this comment rather than commenting individually for the sake of not repeating myself.

First of all, children and family. I am considering this, but I doubt this is the solution to all problems. I agree with people who say it can provide a sense of purpose, but I also agree with people who think it's a bit irresponsible to recommend children to a stranger who shared something like I did.

Next, ADHD and depression. Never did ADHD test, I suspect I might have slight form of it. Depression I refuse to believe it exists in the form society labels it. For me, depression is a chemical imbalance, rather than a state of laziness/sadness/lost in life. Even if I have something like this, I won't take medication. Just a personal view on modern medical system, based on my experience with multiple psychologist and psychiatrists who did more harm that good (in my opinion).

Therapy. As mentioned above, therapy did more harm than good to me. Sure it might work for some people, but my experience with over 4 therapists ended up with either "nothing is wrong with you, don't visit me any more" or attempts to put me in a one of the boxes that the therapist learned about in school, while I clearly try to avoid any boxes.

God, hobbies, etc. I'm not 16 years old. I have grown up responsibilities, and I can't indulge myself in new hobbies every day. I'm focused (as much as I can) on building a business in order to escape the soul crashing tech industry and live on my terms (as much as possible, ultimate freedom is somewhat a lie). Together with this I try to work on my health, and maintain relationship(s). These are my 3 priorities in life, in no particular order. I don't have the time or desire to explore woodworking, or cave diving.

Thanks for everyone who commented, I appreciate every one of you <3