I know that feeling

Posted May 1, 2025 13:35 UTC (Thu) by lacos (guest, #70616)
In reply to: I know that feeling by make
Parent article: Quote of the week

> Even if they take your code for granted, and maybe aren't even aware your code exists (because it "just works"), that's okay, I think. That's why we build software - software that gets the job done and gets out of the way, that you don't need to be aware of. That's the best software, and people don't thank you for building it.

I'm completely unable to identify with this. I can do software in a hobby open source setting because it gives me a flow experience unlike anything else (= intrinsic motivation). And I can do software in a professional setting where I get *both* paid (= extrinsic motivation) *and* recognized (= a bit of intrinsic motivation), for what I do and for how I do it. What you describe is "zero motivation" (or even "negative"): "work with or on software such that the activity for you, personally, is awful, and also unnoticed / unrewarded by people who benefit from your work".

I can build software for myself (and then others need not thank for it), or I can do it for others (in which case they sure as hell need to thank for it, in one way or another).

It's not a *virtue* of "the huge majority of (happy) users" that they never say a word; there's nothing to praise about it. "Taking and taking and taking" is the most primitive activity a life form can exert, I believe; even bacteria can do it.