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In an earlier post The Lounge[^] I noted that a useful member of IT staff was abruptly terminated and, as of yesterday, they grim reaper harvested another. Meanwhile, some thoughts:
IT, per say, was put on notice by the New Kids on the Block that are reorganizing the company, that if a certain program isn't completed by a (demanded) hard date than we're all history. Personally, I think they were simply setting up a pretext, but let's assume not.
OK - so these guys come around (and they're IT-clueless, unlike the predecessor), demand a hard deadline and make threats. Two scenario's open up.
1 - we don't make their deadline - and we're replaced by "smarter younger programmers"
2 - we do make this deadline. Now we've set a precdedent that the seriously understaffed development group can be intimidated into results.
So - now I can look forward to a slightly early retirement or working continuously under the gun. That does not go well with my personality in the least. The other 'real' developer is quite good and wouldn't bat an eye at seeking employment elsewhere. About half the company's operations are running on the stuff we built. We'll both go on making the best stuff we can while we can.
But - thrown out to you lot - comments?
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Find another job; it will only get worse, so it seems.
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If they all found other jobs (and quit on the same day) their employer would have an direct problem.
Would serve them right!
Employees hold the power, unfortunately it's a lot harder to make a bunch of employees work together than it is for management to work against all of them 
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Good idea. Viva la revolution!
The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a f***ing golf cart.
"I don't know, extraterrestrial?"
"You mean like from space?"
"No, from Canada."
If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.
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Alas, I'm rather old by developers' standards - old enough to be two. One of my pet lines is to get a job as a programmer you need to be 25 years old and have 30 years experience. Maybe some local contract work?
Fortunately - I put in the preparation and am essentially immune from any real damage. Time to get back into some serious photography? (!)
The thing is, I love coding - but, then again, I learned to do it and did it years before someone would pay me.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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52 I was when I switched last. 49 before that. Took more than one application but not many. You can do it.
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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Fifty when I started here - took "only" three months (which was actually quite good at the time. But that was long enough ago where - as I said, it's a slightly early retirement. And perhaps some small local contracts. I could go on SS immediately if I've a mind to.
Luckily - I don't need the company for my benefits. That IS a big deal.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Why not apply for other stuff while still in the "safety" of your present place? You could think of it as a free lottery ticket. 
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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I to am an older programmer. I am 67 years old. I am being paid below market because there is real and active age discrimination in our profession.
I have done some contract work, and it is OK. Unfortunately, it is not really stable employment. As soon as you get settled and the job done, the contract is up and it is time to move on....
I do it (programming and development)because I love it. My pet line is that I work for free... I charge for the B.S. I have to put up with.
Good luck....
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Thanks for your good wishes.
I'm not sure I'll do contract work if they terminate me. More likely, teaching locally (Adult Ed, for example) and/or charitable work.
I've created a state of reasonable financial security - but I don't want my mind to rot away from stagnation (or excessive posting on CP).
As it turns out, I've been keeping a spreadsheet (since Hurricane Sandy) and know what my monthly (and thus annual) expenses are. Including vacation expenses, although there will be more of those.
My calm feeling, now that I see a possible precipice, is the mental test of whether or not I really believe in my preparations - I guess I do.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Agreed.
We're philosophical about power outages here. A.C. come, A.C. go.
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Prepare your escape plan now.
We're philosophical about power outages here. A.C. come, A.C. go.
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You essentially have two choices:
0) Tell them where they can put their "hard deadline" (and don't omit the depth or force of insertion requirements)
1) Work until they fire you and leave without so much as a whimper. Don't forget to thank them for the opportunity to get screwed on your way out the door.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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I can do most of (1). More likely than not, they'll discover the extent of the infrastructure I built, and commented though it is, if anything breaks their up to their ankles in sh*t: standing on their heads.
However, they gave me a position to begin with, so I have this caveat to your solution: they put food on my table for years.
I'm many things (check the soapbox) - but an ingrate is not one of them. The thought of . . . well it crossed my mind but I'll just pack my things and go.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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W∴ Balboos wrote: However, they gave me a position to begin with
They really didn't. They weren't operating as a charity; they saw something in you where you could provide the services they needed at a rate that was attractive to them.W∴ Balboos wrote: have this caveat to your solution: they put food on my table for years.
Again, they didn't. They paid you a rate that you both deemed in a fair range for you to provide them a service that they needed to make a profit.
Bottom line. Don't sell yourself short.
This space for rent
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What Pete and John said. Just as you are disposable to this company, so should they be to you. There's plenty of other jobs out there.
If it's no longer a good place for you to work, leave. Life's too short to have a job where you hate getting out of bed in the morning and dread going in.
You can make your reasons for leaving clear in an exit interview without being antagonistic. (I must admit I like John's advice though). If your description of these people is accurate, I doubt you'd get the chance, or they would ignore it.
It sounds as if it's you and one other developer, who you like. It might be worthwhile to feel that person out. Not so you both could leave in a blaze of glory, flipping off the new management as you go out the door (but that might be nice), but because you don't want to leave your friend in a bad place. Just let him/her know you're looking around, (s)he can react to that news however they see fit.
The point is, you don't owe them anything.
Best of luck.
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From the sounds of things, the ones making the unreasonable demands are not at all the people that you worked for over the years. You own them nothing.
If they're a proxy for an ownership/management that you're fond of, maybe their demands need to be mentioned upstream a bit.
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
- Benjamin Disraeli
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Nathan Minier wrote: From the sounds of things, the ones making the unreasonable demands are not at all the people that you worked for over the years. You own them nothing.
I think you mentioned aloud what I've kept in my mind's background processes. Perhaps they'll grow out of this phase before it's too late, but you're right: those who I feel indebted to are no longer part of the analysis.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I've burnt some bridges; you just chose which ones to burn.
More than once, someone who I had not thought of in that capacity, will call you up because thye are now at so-and-so and ask you if you would like to do a project for them...
My biggest project yet may be starting in just this way; and it was all done "remotely".
Tip: "desktop development" (SCADA; POS) is becoming a rare skill; all everyone else knows is POST and GET.
"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".
― Blaise Pascal
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Both. Kindof 'work', secretly find your ticket out of there and then give them a hard deadline.
The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a f***ing golf cart.
"I don't know, extraterrestrial?"
"You mean like from space?"
"No, from Canada."
If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.
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W∴ Balboos wrote: we do make this deadline. Now we've set a precdedent that the seriously understaffed development group can be intimidated into results
If you can do that you deserve to be sacked.
Sorry, it is your DUTY to the company to produce a quality product as fast as possible.
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Munchies_Matt wrote: it is your DUTY to the company to produce a quality product as fast as possible.
Yes, but within reason.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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He is paid to do a job, do it.
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Munchies_Matt wrote: He is paid to do a job, do it.
I agree. But if that job turns into "you must work 80 hour weeks" then I have no problem finding a more reasonable job. No good developer, at least in the US, should ever feel like they can't get another job.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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'If'
The fact is a lot of software can be produced faster, I have seen gross inefficiences in my career.
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