Does anyone else feel a bit sad after finishing a big project?
I do. I remember all the time and effort I invested in the project along with my team, and although I never had a project that failed completely I still feel like my work is not worth all that much. In 5 to 10 years the fruits of this 2 year long project will most likely be obsolete. Perhaps if we are lucky somebody will have learned something which he will integrate into his next project but it won't be much since that little principle/idea is forgotten too.
My motives in writing code are entirely egoistical. If I reached the goals I set myself and gained a deeper understanding of a field, technology or technique, I just feel satisfied and a bit pumped up.
I've never had a 2 year project, though... That's not very agile. :p
"Finish... ?" "Finish a project?"
What a quaint notion.
The work is never done.
Name:
Anonymous2011-02-08 17:53
No. I actually feel relieved that it's finally fucking over and I can take a vacation before starting the next project. I mean, yeah, it feels fucking great shipping software, but the last few months are always a fucking cram-fest, high-stress, long hours, etc.
As for my own personal programming projects, they never end.
Well the only time I remember thinking this was when I finished my final year project at university. We'd all been spending most of our free time for the last month trying to finish up, and so it had pretty much consumed me for that time.
So when it was handed in I wasn't relieved or happy, just empty, like I had nothing to think about now.
But that was 8 years ago now (boy time flies), and have never experienced it since working as a developer - because my work never consumes me to the same extent - it's only 8 hours a day.
I think the only way I could experience it again is if I ran my own company, and then I'm sure the work would consume me in a similar way as I would have much more of a vested interest in success.