[exdsq]

I used to like Musk but honestly I’m so sick of him nowadays. His constant need for media attention, his shit posting on Twitter, his backwards attitude to remote work, damn he annoys me.

Which is a real shame because I’d have loved to work for Space X but what a way to put people off.

[justapassenger]

> Which is a real shame because I’d have loved to work for Space X but what a way to put people off.

Space X is good place to work for if you’re willing to put 80h per week for below average pay, while working for wealthiest person in the world. Cool place to possibly jump start your career in the industry, but not a great place to be for any significant amount of time.

[exdsq]

I just wanted to write code that ends up in space :)

[Balgair]

There are a lot of grad students out there that would love to talk to you and need the help badly.

If you really would like to write space-bound code, I would suggest reaching out to the grad students directly. Nearly all space science programs have dozens of students currently working on instruments or platforms that will be going into space in the next few years.

To get you started, here's the faculty page for ASU: https://sese.asu.edu/people/faculty You can chose any other university any where on the planet too.

Look through some of the labs there. Find a project you may like to work with. Contact the grad students on the PI's homepage directly. You do not need to talk to the professor beforehand. I'll repeat, there is no level of politeness that says you need to talk to the professor beforehand; talking to the grad students directly is perfectly acceptable. See if the grad student needs a hand and what with.

I will warn you, they are scientists that begrudgingly code, they are not coders. Their code is downright cringe in it's simplicity. That's because they are scientists first. Do not try to introduce complex concepts like git to them.

I would really really encourage you to reach out and lend a hand, they need it.

[exdsq]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out!

[elkos]

If you are interested in writing open-source code that ends up in space. Don't hesitate to check Libre Space Foundation's repositories https://gitlab.com/librespacefoundation/ there are several open-source software and hardware projects currently in development including satellites and their components. More info on the organization here: https://libre.space

Disclaimer: I'm the vice-chair of the organization, and I might be biased.

[exdsq]

I absolutely am! I'll check it out, thanks :)

[Dunedan]

Another way to achieve that would be to contribute to Open Source software. Github for example awarded a badge to developers who contributed to libraries which are used by the helicopter on Mars to make such achievements more transparent: https://github.blog/changelog/2021-04-19-new-badge-for-devel...

[op00to]

the dude was always a toxic bullshitter. it's amazing how people were blinded to this. telsa cars are poor quality garbage, and reflect elon's personality to a T. flashy, but under the surface it's all lies and decay.

[runevault]

Creating companies like SpaceX and Tesla, I can see how people would turn a blind eye to his more troublesome traits because he was creating companies that pointed towards the future in the way other billionaires weren't necessarily. Wanting that to be true and good is perfectly understandable, even if it is also incredibly dangerous.

[claaams]

He didn't create Tesla. He invested early in someone else's idea.

[exdsq]

I'm the OP of the comment this thread was responding too, talking about how I dislike Musk, but I'd still say he was the driving force of Tesla in that it was a close-to-bankrupt company that is unrecognisable of the company you see today. Same with the whole idea he's only rich because his dad is - Zip2 and Paypal were huge acquisitions that dwarf his fathers net worth back then, and having wealth is in no way a guarantee you'll > 1000x that amount.

[op00to]

Not having wealth is a guarantee you won’t 1000x.

[exdsq]

What nonsense. How many business owners in the US immigrated with basically zero and made > $1m? How many startup founders have come from disadvantaged backgrounds and exited/got acquired? How many first-gen college grads got into good schools and ended up firmly in the upper-middle class (US based, that is?). It's far easier to 1000x when you have little than when you have a good amount. Just look at the number of millionaires compared to billionaires.

[mlindner]

He did create Tesla. He went to AC Propulsion and tried to form a company with them but they weren't interested and instead directed him to two guys who had incorporation papers and nothing else. He then funded 90% of the Series A round when there were only the two "founders". He was involved with the company from that point forward.

[FireBeyond]

> instead directed him to two guys who had incorporation papers and nothing else

That's not true.

They were already working on a proprietary motor that would go on to become the basis of the Tesla motor.

They got Series A funding from Musk and other sources (though Musk was the largest funder) at the start of 2004.

He also wasn't really involved in day to day ops, but provided "vision" for the Roadster from 2007 onwards - that's when he became more involved.

[mlindner]

Do you have a source on what they were doing before Series A? I didn't start paying close attention personally until around the time the Model S started getting close to production. I've never heard anything about a "proprietary motor".

[zionic]

False, he's a cofounder. Tesla had no cars and no customers before Elon.

[rcMgD2BwE72F]

>We expect the 2022 Model 3 will have about average reliability when compared to the average new car. This prediction is based on data from 2019, 2020 and 2021 models. Select the used car model year to see reported issues with those similar past models.

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/tesla/model-3/2022/reli...

[herbstein]

A lot of new cars are cheaper than a Tesla. How are their reliability compared to their competition price-wise?

[op00to]

“We expect”. Rather than expecting, let’s look at what CR says about Tesla.

Consumer Reports states that Tesla’s Model 3 has average reliability. The Model Y still has body hardware issues with the tailgate and door alignment, paint defects, and multiple other problems. The Model X and Model S have body hardware, climate system, and in-car electronics problems. All three models are well below average.

https://insideevs.com/news/549130/consumerreports-tesla-reli...

[mlindner]

He's never been a toxic bullshitter. He aims big, and gives dates with lots of caveats/uncertainties attached to them (that the media never reports). In a recent interview he stated a great statement "At SpaceX we specialize in converting the impossible into the late" which is a nice truthism about all of his companies.

Tesla cars are quite reliable but their unreliability is over reported giving the perception of a higher unreliability than is actually the case.

[FireBeyond]

> and gives dates with lots of caveats/uncertainties attached to them (that the media never reports)

When is FSD coming? According to Musk, he's said every year for the last seven years running that it is coming "this year" or "months away", and the only "caveat" he's ever mentioned is "subject to regulatory approval", and that is clearly factually incorrect. FSD is not, and certainly was not "complete but for legal approvals".

Unless you have some other explanation for what "You will be able to drive coast to coast, with zero driver interventions, this year".

At some point repeatedly "aiming big" becomes a caricature, and then eventually seen for the BS/hype it is.

[mettamage]

> At some point repeatedly "aiming big" becomes a caricature, and then eventually seen for the BS/hype it is.

I disagree. There are different incentives at play. I'll list the few I see.

When does FSD come? You can't say stuff like "10 years out". That'd be a hard sell in academia and an even harder sell in business. Moreover, Tesla is trying to move as fast as possible. The other issue is that they have to give a deadline estimate. As we all know, the business world cannot operate without any deadline estimates. So Elon gives them. If it sounds vaguely familiar to software engineering that's because it's the same misaligned incentive at play here, but then at a larger scale.

Also, he aimed big, and some of those big aims actually became reality. Isn't it the case with R&D and innovation that you have to fail a lot? It isn't easy.

So now we're in a situation where there are people that demand: whatever Tesla decides to innovate on must be a success and accurately estimated time-wise. No organization in the world has ever been able to do that, so to expect that is a fool's errand, IMO.

[FireBeyond]

FSD is a hard problem. Other companies, public ones, have no issue talking about it as a multi/many year project (at best).

Elon constantly says "it's months away", "it's this year", "no, really, this year". Hell he just recently pushed a date back from June to September because "we might be able to announce something".

Having seen the issues with FSD versions dropping today, no-one can seriously think that some September announcement is going to be a "solution".

I get what you're saying. And it's not about being "aspirational". It's repeatedly, to the point of eye-rolling, over-promising, and underdelivering.

[op00to]

Consumer reports says the model 3 is around average reliability and the rest me the models are much worse.

[aceon48]

Disagree my Tesla is the best car I’ve ever had

[delusional]

Did you pay significantly more for it than any other car you've ever owned?

[op00to]

How’s FSD working out for you? Lucky enough to not kill anyone lately?

[kamaal]

>>His constant need for media attention

That's pretty much most of the world today, every wants to post pictures on social media for likes, appreciation, comments etc.

>>his shit posting on Twitter,

Well again the same thing, we are just in these times where everyone wants to voice their opinion.

>>his backwards attitude to remote work

Well you can't make cars at your home, nor can you make rocket/components. Kind of makes sense that you need to be there at the plant.