Why Do Volunteers Write Better Code?

[ Thanks to Carla Schroder for this link. ]

"Why do volunteers write better code? One word: Dilbert. It's not that devs who work for big companies have inferior skills-- it's all the roadblocks businesses put in the way of the people who care about the work: the marketers, the useless in-the-way managers, and the corporate goals which are so often antithetical to releasing quality products that customers like, and all the time- and talent-wasters that make corporate America more like adult daycare. I've held various jobs in my life, and I've worked for myself, and let me tell you working for other people has, with two exceptions, been unrewarding and frustrating. Life is too short to work only for a paycheck, and as long as I have any other options I'm going to take them.

"There are but two companies I ever worked for (I'm over 50 so that covers some ground!) that weren't complete wastes of my time and abilities. The first one was American Building Maintenance, lo so many years ago. ABM is a janitorial company, and unlike most management jobs there is no way for a janitor to get away with slacking and incompetence, because it's obvious when the work is not done. "

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