Ben Foote
I lost my software job 2 months ago, of which I'd been an engineer for 22 years, and based on the current state of jobs and hiring, I'm inclined to just get a job in the trades. What's going on in the software world is unconscionable. I don't think I can be part of this. I tried, but can't.
May 8 at 6:17pmMoshidon
Show threadBen FooteMay 8
I love touching bare metal, I love doing things that are efficient and meaningful, I love knowing the difference between big and little endian, but as I've gotten older software has taken all the joy out of knowing how best to use the hardware. AI is the antithesis of being a software engineer. Anyone that uses it has no idea what registers it uses or how it gets scheduled by the kernel, they just want to think they're smart by proxy. This has really taken the wind out of my sails.
Show threadBen FooteMay 8
Do you know what the quickest way to zero out a register? It's XOR. I promise you, AI people have no idea about what a register or XOR are.
Show threadMcNeelyMay 8
@benpocalypse ahh jeez I'm sorry to hear that. It's a pretty bleak feeling situation right now that's for damn sure 😔
Show threadBen FooteMay 8
@McNeely Thanks man. I'll be fine, but I'm just not sure software is my future as a career. I'll always do it in my own time, but it seems the world has turned and I'm left behind.
Show threadSimon BMay 8
@benpocalypse @McNeely have you considered a role as Research Software Engineer in a university ? its quite a varied role
Show threadJeff MartinMay 8
@foobarry @benpocalypse @McNeely I have one of these jobs. They're great! Can't recommend it enough.  They're tragically rare though.
Show threadBen FooteMay 9
@foobarry @McNeely I have not. I'll look into it. Thank you.
Show threadGlitchy PixelMay 8

@benpocalypse I feel you. I am in a similar position. After my last work three years ago (!) I haven't found something else.

I am fortunate to have enough for a decent living with my wife and son, and I have been teaching at uni and making ends meet. But actual software, too depressing.

There are good student promises, but by the gods some of them, their minds are vibe coded ruined forever.

I usually joke that you shouldn't make a career out of software or gamedev. I have stopped joking.

Show threadBen FooteMay 9
@glitchypixel I got rejected at an interview because I didn't have any "AI certifications" listed on my resume. Whatever TF those are.
Show threadGlitchy PixelMay 9

@benpocalypse Pffft oh come on. That's just asinine, depressing and so so illogical. I'm so sorry.

That kind of stuff makes my blood boil.