Related to factors around an employer's place of business. May involve cubicles, co-workers or bosses often.
8
votes
8answers
386 views
Conflict resolution between programmers
Sometimes, maybe during a code review or a design meeting arguments can get heated and it's easy to insult someone unintentionally. These things can in turn create a tense atmosphere in the workplace ...
5
votes
6answers
506 views
Correcting indentation
I work for a multi-national I.T. services company. I'd thought they'd be applying good development practices but they aren't. One example is the source code base for a Java project that is currently ...
28
votes
21answers
3k views
Working for free? [closed]
I came across this article Work for Free that got me thinking.
The goal of every employer is to gain
more value from workers than the firm
pays out in wages; otherwise, there is
no growth, ...
2
votes
5answers
520 views
Web Usage Policies at “Best Companies to Work For”
For any company that has made it onto a "Best Companies to Work For" list* in 2010 that hires programmers, what restrictions on web usage do they have in place? Does that company view unrestricted ...
37
votes
14answers
2k views
Can passionate programmers with limited abilities have life outside work? [closed]
Update: Thanks for all the wonderful answers posted. It really helped me to put things in perspective.
I definitely feel better now and signed up for gym few days back. Also I leave my work laptop at ...
6
votes
6answers
295 views
Does your company donate financially to open source projects? Why not?
Does your company donate financially to open source projects?
My company doesn't. We use open source operating systems, tools, libraries, IDEs, application servers, databases, websites (Wikipedia) ...
21
votes
16answers
2k views
What causes overtime and how can it be avoided?
Today, my manager told me that I must work over time to make up for a lack of planning and project management. Instead of incentivizing this unpaid mandatory overtime, my manager has made it clear I ...
22
votes
13answers
2k views
Is taking frequent breaks really that beneficial when programming?
I keep reading that it is recommended for a programmer to take frequent breaks while programming, and the usual recommendation I see is 5 minutes every half hour or 10 minutes every hour.
I gave it a ...
19
votes
18answers
2k views
What kind of screen has the best image quality for reading/programming?
I'm thinking about buying a new laptop, and while I bought my original one oblivious to the fact that there could be different quality screens out there, after seeing the screen on my sister's netbook ...
16
votes
15answers
1k views
4x as much work as I can actually do, what now?
I work for a web development firm and currently have 9 projects in the programming phase waiting for me to do them, and deadlines are flying past quickly without the projects getting done in time.
We ...
13
votes
5answers
395 views
How should I approach doing similar work on the side to what I do at work during the day?
Currently got a good job, spending 70% of my day doing what I love, the downside of this is of course that I am working for someone else and not my self.
Ideally would love to get something of my own ...
4
votes
3answers
358 views
Difference between visibility of the project and micro-manage
Here is my situation.
My boss wants to know everthing I am doing.
We are using Scrum so we do 15 minutes daily meeting and I attend everyday..
I am perfectly fine with this and actually interested ...
15
votes
8answers
626 views
Career stability or tech skill growth? [closed]
For the last 3 years, I've been working as the lone .NET software developer in a large non-tech, manufacturing company. The work conditions and the pay are great, and it is a very stable position, ...
10
votes
8answers
1k views
New job and my boss is frequently absent [closed]
So I just started a new position at a great company that is pretty much a dream to work for. The only problem is that there's a steep learning curve for the type of data I will be working with, and my ...
11
votes
7answers
329 views
Where do you draw the line between quantity and quality?
My manager has talked with me and says that the quality of my work is excellent, but I need to step up the quantity of how much I crank out. I've only been working for a couple of years, so I still ...
13
votes
10answers
652 views
Is it appropriate to go around your boss to receive an answer? If so how?
If you have a project and there are questions that need answered regarding a specific part of it but answers are not coming back to you because of a reason such as: "The project is not in scope and as ...
5
votes
5answers
311 views
Is it right to appraise Scrum members according to number of successful user stories completed?
When my Manager told to team that "now onwards successful user stories will be considered for appraisal!"
We sat there for while shocked and that was one of the several jaw dropping moments he gave ...
22
votes
13answers
1k views
Is paper indispensable in a programmer's everyday work?
As a programmer who work in a company whose vision is to make paperless office possible, is there any way I can work effectively while using less paper?
I can list at least several kinds of papers I ...
25
votes
10answers
2k views
What can I do if my boss is asking about my program every hour?
Here is the situation:
You are working on your complex, hi-tech code, and your boss keeps on asking if it's finished.
But the project started just yesterday and you have two weeks to go.
What can I ...
10
votes
11answers
937 views
How do you prepare yourself before you start coding? [closed]
Before you start coding something, how do you prepare yourself?
Do you make diagrams, pseudocode, mockups or any of that kind of stuff or you just start coding and see what comes along the way.
...
3
votes
2answers
585 views
Will large screen increase develop productivity? [closed]
I am considering to buy a desktop computer, but could not determine which size of LCD should I buy. What's the size of your screen, will large LCD(30 inches+) will do good to develop?
4
votes
5answers
469 views
Do social networks increase development productivity?
I am a developer a fairly large firm of programmers (100+). Since there are several departments and several teams within each department; communication is an issue regarding: sharing of ideas, ...
84
votes
28answers
6k views
How do programmers quit a job?
I'm thinking about leaving my current employer and wondering how one goes about that process in the programming world. We have a lot of projects on the go at the moment and I'm the only developer. We ...
5
votes
3answers
934 views
Is there a cheaper non-express non-student, non-msdn version of Visual Studio 2010 that supports plugins in the US than the $710 Professional Edition?
I've never actually purchased a copy of Visual Studio myself. SharpDevelop and Express edition have always been good enough for my personal use, and my employers always furnished me with the IDEs I ...
15
votes
6answers
365 views
What amount of time do you spend doing each of the following [closed]
Recently I've been thinking I spend too much time on SO and general learning / keeping up with technology rather than actual coding.
So my question is what ratio's of your time do you spend on the ...
19
votes
7answers
647 views
During interviews, how do I gauge a company's respect for my position?
I'm a web developer who previously joined a software company not knowing their value and respect went to big data analysis, not their website. Sure, they needed a public-facing website, but I ...
14
votes
8answers
449 views
Methodologies of a high class development team
I've recently been tasked with increasing standards and efficiency within a development team. I've read similar posts about the makings of a good development team but these often discuss the human ...
10
votes
10answers
1k views
How do you pronounce technical English words around non-natives? [closed]
I'm working as a developer back in my home country, where English is not a first/second language. However, I consider myself a native speaker since most of my schooling has been in an American ...
5
votes
9answers
423 views
What tricks/tips do you use for innovation? [closed]
I am looking for a few ideas on how to change a highly conventional work culture to be more innovated in their approached to problem solving. I've come across this article and am looking for more ...
34
votes
27answers
2k views
What would be in your ideal “hacker cafe”? [closed]
Opening up a "hacker cafe" in San Francisco has been a kind of passive dream of mine for a while, but the more I work here, the more I see the demand and the possibility of it happening. I can't think ...
10
votes
5answers
529 views
What makes a successful development team?
What are the signs of a successful development team? What qualities does a team of developers need to possess in order to be successful?
11
votes
9answers
2k views
Do you work contract projects in addition to your full-time job?
As developers do you ever seek out contract work in addition to your full-time job? I am considering pursuing some additional part-time opportunities and I'm curious how common it is among full-time ...
28
votes
5answers
2k views
Introducing “20% time” at a workplace [closed]
20% time it's the culture of an employer allowing it's employees to spend 20% of their time working on projects that they find interesting - it may be inventing a new app, or improving an existing ...
39
votes
3answers
1k views
How to ditch the cubicle? [closed]
I would really like to get out of the 9-5 "cubicle" existence and do something where I can work from home, take off when I like, etc. Don't get me wrong... I don't mind working hard, but I just am ...
48
votes
13answers
2k views
Best question your boss asked [closed]
In many places, bosses are notorious for not understanding the details of what's happening. This leads to many very silly and frustrating questions and requests. But from time to time the opposite ...
35
votes
12answers
2k views
Boss Asking To Work Overtime But Under the Radar [closed]
So the other day my boss (let's call him Colfax) asked me to work on a project, but that I should not discuss it with anyone (including the other programmers on my team) and that it would have to be ...
4
votes
3answers
139 views
Do you think it is possible to turn a public sector development team into a team that is highly regarded in the development community?
Do you think it is possible to turn a public sector development team into a team that is highly regarded in the development community? Are there examples of it? I'm think of the highest level such as ...
11
votes
9answers
984 views
How much control can I expect to have over my work environment?
Currently I'm a student, but I'm about to go look for a job next semester, and I'm a bit worried that the jobs I'll get will have me stuck with a table that is too high, screen that is too low, and a ...
3
votes
9answers
561 views
What reasons do you have/give for using an MP3 player/iPod while programming?
At my last job, as a Project Manager, I argued (unsuccessfully) for the Developers to be able to use MP3 players while they were working. Unfortunately, the culture in that company was such that many ...
11
votes
6answers
497 views
What is the best way to bring a new programmer up to speed on a project?
When you add a programmer to a project with a large code base, what is the best way to get them involved right away? Do you give them formal training in the code base or let them figure it out ...
23
votes
13answers
1k views
What tools are available for remote communication when working from home or with a distributed team?
My supervisor is allowing my team to dip our toes in the water of working from home. Considering a recent aquisition of another company is requiring some employees to love this new idea which will ...
76
votes
33answers
4k views
When deciding on whether or not to work for a new company, what are your dealbreakers? [closed]
I know we've covered what questions you should ask about a company before you would decide to work there. But what do you do with the answers?
In other words, what would you consider a dealbreaker? ...
22
votes
5answers
2k views
Good questions to ask a potential new boss?
I first asked this question on Stack Overflow, but it turns out this is a better place for it.
Imagine you were working as a software developer. Imagine that the manager of your team leaves and your ...
21
votes
3answers
761 views
Would you make use of “Google 20%” time if your employer encouraged and funded it? [closed]
We know about Google's 20% projects, whereby a developer can spend up to 20% of their time on a personal project which interests them.
If your employer let you spend 20% of your time on a project ...
4
votes
5answers
206 views
How to get out of supporting deadend sales pitches?
As part of being a programmer, you often are asked to provide estimates/ make slideware / do technical demos for Sales teams to present to end-clients. Sometimes we go along for the 'technical' ...
31
votes
8answers
1k views
Working as the sole programmer at a non-tech company
I work as the back-end developer, front-end developer, systems admin, help desk and all-around 'guy who knows computers' at a small marketing company of about 15 people.
I was wondering if others ...
12
votes
10answers
949 views
Is it best to try to work at a company where your software directly makes the company money? [closed]
I was told once that the best place to work as a developer is a company where the software you write is what makes the company money, whether it be software production or software services like ...
44
votes
29answers
3k views
When do you know it's time to move on from your current job? [closed]
Have you ever reached a point at your job when you just know it's time to move on?
When do you move to the point that you're willing to let go of the demons you know for the ones you don't know?
...
8
votes
3answers
328 views
What are off-shore resources' experiences like working for foreign companies? [closed]
Are you an off-shore coding resource for a foreign company? What are the challenges of working with foreign companies? What helps make the project more successful?
17
votes
9answers
404 views
How involved should our employers be in our education?
I consider myself a Software Craftsman. I like to attend local user groups and events to learn about new technologies as well as network with other software craftsman. We love to talk about what ...
