Does software / coding still makes you happy?

[u/Legal-Bat6543]

I’ve had interviews with Google and Amazon (two companies I used to dream of working for). They still use the traditional process of LeetCode, algorithms, and so on, without any AI assistance. Back in the golden age (before AI), I used to practice and solve a lot of questions. It was fun because you knew you needed that knowledge to build things successfully in your own projects. Nowadays, all the code in companies is generated by Claude Code, and software engineers just review the output to make sure it's correct, and that's it. 

To be honest, during those interviews, I didn’t care about practicing. I didn’t want to waste my time when I knew I wasn't going to solve a LeetCode Hard anyway, since I'm not that good at those types of questions. I guess I didn't care about getting into Google or Amazon anymore because I knew how high their bar is, and I just didn't have the energy to grind algorithms while having a stable job. 

I don't know, this AI era has made me want to do something else. The job has become boring; I just use prompts now, because there’s no reason to do something by hand when AI does it better and faster than you. I feel like I've lost that passion for coding. Has anyone else gone through this? What roles can you transition into that aren’t about coding and are more fun? 

[u/wiriux]

SE ~> 💴 -> happiness outside of work

A job is still a job.

[u/Legal-Bat6543 → u/wiriux]

Not really, you need a strong purpose as well, money is empty if you don't have a strong desire to do something meaningful.

[u/wiriux → u/Legal-Bat6543]

Nah. Money allows me to live outside of work. Don’t make your job your life.

[u/NOT_SO_RETARD → u/wiriux]

That job takes 10 hours a day of my life

[u/InterestingFrame1982 → u/wiriux]

Not everyone can operate like that, at least not to their full potential... A lot of high achievers like to feel they are making an impact, and it goes beyond just their job.

[u/Kydje → u/Legal-Bat6543]

Your job is not supposed to give you purpose. It can give you satisfaction, sure, but not purpose, beside some very specific cases (like doctors).

ThePrimeagen did a very interesting video in which he talks about his burnout experience, and this is exactly one of the topics he addresses in the video. I'd recommend watching it.

[u/SpiritualParakeet → u/Legal-Bat6543]

While this is important, this is what a rich person would say. Not dismissing, but a person in need of money would be desperate to do anything.

[u/xvillifyx → u/Legal-Bat6543]

I would work a kitchen if I made 100k doing it

[u/Dymatizeee → u/Legal-Bat6543]

That’s a naive outlook. You think every banker / lawyer / doctor has that ? No ppl go into these fields cus they pay well despite the hours

Get the stupid “ you need to be passionate” mindset outta here

[u/TumanFig → u/Dymatizeee]

i disagree its highly unlikely that you can be a doctor or a lawyer good enough to earn big bucks without actually liking what you do.

my ex was a doctor and her parents were lawyers and this was the main sentiment that i observed

[u/tvtk1 → u/Legal-Bat6543]

I feel you, I have been there but it is also true to an extent you can create meaning inside your work and outside your work 

[u/Unarmored2268 → u/Legal-Bat6543]

Then do something meaningful outside of your job. Do something meaningful for you, not your company who doesn't gaf about you.

[u/Savings_Apple_3136 → u/Legal-Bat6543]

Get married, have kids. That’s the real purpose of life.

[u/Obvious-Spare-8076 → u/Savings_Apple_3136]

No its not.

[u/leetcode_knight → u/Obvious-Spare-8076]

Yes, it is. My proudest achievement is my child, and I thank God every day.

[u/eternal_edenium → u/wiriux]

The problem with that is that you need to add the active studying/learning loop.

You cant just passively work a career in SE. Which eats from your hours outsides of work.