[barbs]

I'm in an eerily similar situation. Been doing software development for about 5 years (though at different places, doing primarily Android development), am just over 6 weeks at a new job and I'm beginning to feel that software development's just not for me anymore. I don't feel passionate about most aspects of it - constantly playing catchup with the latest frameworks, the development/management methodologies/processes, wrestling with the Android framework, pushing pixels, UI/UX...

There are still elements that I enjoy. I still love the creative, mathematical problem-solving aspects, but those moments feel few and far between.

I also feel at times I'm taking my position for granted - I'm not sure what else I'd do besides programming. I've always had a casual interest in security, so I'm thinking I might look into that. Being a "bug bounty-hunter" seems like a dream, though I'm not entirely sure how realistic that would be!

I also love music, but I think that's even less feasible. I'm not proficient enough to be able to teach it. But I would like to be able to dedicate more time to learning/producing it.

Good luck - here's hoping we find something more fulfilling :).

[flushandforget]

I'm a freelance programmer without much self-worth, and currently no work. Given the right environment, people and projects (for me), I know I'd be happier and wealthier, and may even thrive. Rather than the abandonment that I've felt on many freelance gigs. With age, I find it increasingly difficult to sit in front of a computer for long stretches of time (more than 4 hours). I've been in a rut, where I've barely earned enough to get by for the last 15 years, and have nothing to show for it, other than a bust shoulder. No landmark projects or piles of cash. Cash would help! My other half frequently tries to talk me out of the profession. I work occasionally with impassioned newcomers, who assume with my depth of knowledge and skill-set I'd be earning shed loads and taking the best gigs. But they have the needed drive and zeal that I feel I could do with a shot of. Or rather, I can program, but I'm not a successful programmer/worker. I still like problem solving, but also appreciate some donkey work. I often think what else can I do, but my imagination and confidence fails me. And I'm too shy to ask for help (UK).

[Chris2048]

Could you pick up a project, say on coursera, and move into a slightly different field? ML, cv etc?

London appears to have a lot of jobs atm...

[ktkization]

Have you checked this out before http://www.bountysource.com

[Chris2048]

I stay away from web and mobile. They change too much, have too many layers of technology to potentially fail.

Also, web tech isn't nice to work with...

[nogbit]

I agree that the layers are insane and change frequently. Bigger companies go with stacks that don't change as much (C# or Java) vs. JavaScript but that's all relative and that may be too much change still.

Going the graphics programmer route (OpenGL, DirectX, Vulkan) would make for some fun work in a stack that changes in a different way and not as fast.

Bottom line though, technology is the business of change and we enable change for those that we work for.