Tom Brady on Software Management

[jsj1971]

http://blog.slickedit.com/?p=229

[aneesh]

I've always wondered ... developers love to complain about managers at work, but (even at a startup) are loath to BECOME that manager. My last boss, a hacker at heart, was in a "management" role, and he hacked 70% of the day. He was a pleasure to work with, and our group wrote some awesome software.

So, why don't more hackers become managers instead of just complaining?

[edw519 → aneesh]

"why don't more hackers become managers"

Been there, done that. Won't do it again. Why?

1. I can earn more hacking.

2. I can get way more done hacking.

3. Hacking is more fun.

4. I like building stuff.

5. I hate doing lots of activity that produces little value.

6. I can still get lots of human interface being a hacker without being the bad guy.

7. I can cure my own headaches a lot more easily.

8. The computer does exactly what I tell it. Try that with any person.

9. I may be doing something that's never been done before. Less likely for a manager.

10. I'm a natural born hacker. I wonder if anyone is a natural born manager.

[marcus → edw519]

Yes there are a few natural born managers, but they are rare and far in between.

[pchristensen → marcus]

And they're probably busy using those skills to be that awesome schoolteacher we all fondly remember.

[redorb → aneesh]

I think also you have to get in were you fit in. Hackers are hackers, if it smells like dirty laundry, tastes like old pizza and is as cheap as ramen noodles, its a hacker.

[hsuresh]

Why do we need managers anyway?