I am 58 and can relate to pretty much everything the author wrote, but especially this:
computer programs are now monstrosities of large numbers
of layers of libraries cobbled together to create ever
more slickly polished user interfaces showing ever more
inane content and advertising.
I find it difficult to stay motivated to write software these days, for a few reasons. First, there are specialties. Years ago, you could be a generalist, and be useful writing software pretty much anywhere. And I'm not talking about just learning the latest fad language or framework. If you don't have a long background in neural nets, or transaction processing, or compilers, or you name it, you aren't going to be doing work that is both useful and interesting.
Second, as the author says, programming these days is often just taking libraries, writing adapters, all to serve slightly more relevant ads slightly faster. What a huge fucking waste of time. After the 2008 financial meltdown, it was noted that the "best and brightest" young people were wasting their talents on the "financialization" of the economy, which did nothing good for nearly everyone. I see the same thing happening now, in software.
Third, like the author, I got tired of working for idiots and wasting my time on corporate voodoo, so I left for consulting. While that has much to recommend it, working pretty much by yourself definitely limits what you can accomplish. On the other hand, I have a lot more time to myself, and I'm enjoying traveling, visiting family and friends, sleeping late, and generally just doing whatever I want.
Second, as the author says, programming these days is often just taking libraries, writing adapters, all to serve slightly more relevant ads slightly faster. What a huge fucking waste of time. After the 2008 financial meltdown, it was noted that the "best and brightest" young people were wasting their talents on the "financialization" of the economy, which did nothing good for nearly everyone. I see the same thing happening now, in software.
Third, like the author, I got tired of working for idiots and wasting my time on corporate voodoo, so I left for consulting. While that has much to recommend it, working pretty much by yourself definitely limits what you can accomplish. On the other hand, I have a lot more time to myself, and I'm enjoying traveling, visiting family and friends, sleeping late, and generally just doing whatever I want.