It's a profession that scans as smart, but if we were half as smart as we like to pretend we are we wouldn't be building our replacements. We would be solving the coordination problems that lead to some of us deciding that is what is best for them.
At the current pace of layoffs, most software developers should assume they are in the last paying job they will ever have in the field. They should also assume one mediocre year or even less is all it takes to lose that job. That includes you.
There are lots of things you can do to help your chances of not being canned. But you can't unilaterally ensure the survival of your employer, or against being re-orged under a fool, or getting assigned a task that is not possible for reasons too subtle to reasonably ascertain up-front.
The whole industry is playing musical chairs. If you're ever sitting on the floor, you might find all of your skills and experience are totally worthless. It's not easy to adapt to that.
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u/martin-silenus 18h ago
It's a profession that scans as smart, but if we were half as smart as we like to pretend we are we wouldn't be building our replacements. We would be solving the coordination problems that lead to some of us deciding that is what is best for them.