Programming is Boring

A short talk about how programming is boring, but boredom is necessary for growth. First given at @wafflejs on August 3rd, 2016 in San Francisco, CA

Transcript

1. (but you know, only sometimes) @wafflejs 3 August 2016 programming is boring
2. hey there I’m @duretti! !
3. I’m here to tell you a secret
5. PROGRAMMING IS BORING
6. when we talk to each other, it’s usually about the cool stuff
8. we don’t talk about the real-real
9. perception
10. reality
11. PROGRAMMING IS BORING
12. a list of boring things I’ve done
13. a list of boring things I’ve done [non exahustive]
14. html email, just like, generally "
15. html email, just like, generally "
16. fixing tests #
17. manual copypasta of text out of a spreadsheet and into templates $
18. adding tracking code, to anything
19. that’s not to say programming is all bad
20. handy formula for non-boredom
21. #engagement frustration + googling =
22. a couple of tips, tho
23. getting right with frustration and boredom is hugely important
24. when bored, it’s easy to be lazy
26. boredom is the price of improvement
27. A life too full of excitement is an exhausting life, in which continually stronger stimuli are needed to give the thrill that has come to be thought an essential part of pleasure. A person accustomed to too much excitement is like a person with a morbid craving for pepper, who comes last to be unable even to taste a quantity of pepper which would cause anyone else to choke. —Bertrand Russell
28. many parts of life are surprisingly boring
29. “It's hard having kids, to sit there That really is the hardest part of having kids. because it's boring. uh, Ask any parent. ‘What’s the hard part? Is it looking after their healthcare? Is it making sure that their education—’ No, it's just being with them on the floor while they be children. It's just they read Clifford the Big Red Dog to you and be horribly proud and bored at the at a rate of fifty minutes a page, and you have same time.” —Louie C.K.
30. fighting through frustration is an expression of grit
31. grit is incredibly important in terms of achieving goals
32. people with grit are stubborn af
33. time 4 real talk
34. to last in this industry, you need grit
35. but also…
36. automation is your friend
37. tl; dr
38. programming is boring
39. tell your friends
40. boredom is important for growth
41. fight frustration, be tenacious
42. thanks for listening % @duretti