Live Free or Die - feel like I'm working for the devil at times

[nanode]

I work for a very large, commercial software company as a developer. I generally like the projects I work on, but am less enthusiastic when I look at the big picture of the company.

There aren't any criminal or immoral circumstances here, just the dilema that many programmers and engineers have likely faced for decades. "designing and building a piece of crap because it will make a $1.00"

I realize that business drives the world, in fact I earned my bachelors degree in business not long ago - but to me that is not a rationale to build something I know to be below standard or even flawed.

Sometimes I wonder if there is a magical and happy open source software company where people get paid because they make the best software for the best reasons - but then reality hits and all I see is more marketing drivel.

Am I alone on this?

[MkIII_Supra]

No it's called honor and personal integrity. I have a value system that does not allow for nor validate substandard performance. Another reason I am getting out of the Navy. The "Good enough for government" attitude goes against all my beliefs and principles. I was raised to do a job / perform a task with personal honor. In other words if it works take the credit, if it breaks take the blame and fix it.

I am appalled by the low standards of acceptance in all walks of life. How can we even begin to advance to a new level with such low standards? All of the European / American cultures should really look hard at Asian ethics in quality and performance. The Japanese, Chinese and even the Koreans have standards that to the Western mind are to high, but in reallity are where they need to be for the price we pay for our services and products.

Toyota, Hundai, Mazda, Sony, Sanyo, Tokiko, Yamaha just to name a few. Those names when taken in the mind set of quality speak for themselves of the high standards followed and stringently adhered to.

Just my thought....

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The Dragon is swift and powerful. Beware his wrath...
Not much to say? Then shut the hell up!
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/MkIIISupra/ (http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/MkIIISupra)

[nanode]

A little over a year ago I bought a Toyota Tacoma pickup. It cost about 10-15% more than comparably equipped domestic models - but it's the little things, like how the doors are hung or more precise threaded on engine bolts that make the difference.

I don't think software is evaluated in that way, perhaps it should be.

To rephrase my original point, I do have high standards for myself and the work I do, but at times my environment (managers, customers etc) force a compromise. I don't think I could provide my boss with any rationale that would justify delaying a project 50%.

[Sterling]

This is one reason why I'm kind of worried about future jobs I might get or have to take in the software world. (Despite what might be said, one HAS to work.) I really don't like doing substandard anything, and usually wind up recoding something two or three times before I wind up with a final product I like. I guess I'll just have to hope that the Open Source (or maybe even Free Software...) mentality has spread enough by the time I start looking for work...

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-Sterling
-This post made with the Lizard! (http://www.mozilla.org)

[mohair]

The real world is a cold place. I grew up in a city of 13,000,000 people. That environment had a lot in common with working for a big corp. (which I've done also). The question is, "Do I want to spend my life supporting the machinary of an institution that holds lifeless policies over the idealism and dreams of my heart?" You've got to make it happen. In the late sixties and early seventies this inner conflict became a collective social movement. Many of the individuals who grabbed for the rainbow fell flat on their faces and quickly scrambled back to their nook of security in the system. We bailed out back then and headed for the hills (literally). It's been a very tough 30+ years and much has transpired to fine tune our world view and dreams. We jumped so far off that we were off the phone and power grid for better part of 11 years. But our idealism was still alive. We sacrificed for the dream. We've slowly moved into the modern world ever diligent not to loose what we feel we've gained. Here's what we've become: http://www.mcsi.net/ssp/mohair. Linux is empowering us to enter the present culture and to maintain the sense of independence we so cherish and yet to contribute what we feel we should add to the mix of the present world culture. The up shot is this. Begin your pilgrimage for meaning and truth and sacrifice whatever you must to find peace in your heart. It is worth it. If you fall, rise, learn and go on. It works especially well when your young. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

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The GIMP is @ Singing Falls
http://www.mcsi.net/ssp/mohair