Read it however you like. I intend to give a realistic opinion based on my own experience and that of other freelancers I know. I've read or heard starry-eyed dreams of "just writing code the way I want to do it" as if that would somehow generate an income. Writing whatever code you want in your own way defines a hobbyist. Developing an idea into a product defines an entrepreneur. Coding what someone else wants for money defines a freelancer.
I don't know what the OP imagines or wants. "Independent software developer" can describe any of the definitions I gave above. It can also describe "unemployed grinding out niche open source project." As a freelancer I have considerable independence, compared to employees, but I don't get to set all of the parameters because I have to deliver something my customers will pay for, on a schedule they agree to. The more history and trust I have with my customer the more input I have into the overall process and parameters.
If you only have 1 boss, he gets 100% of the control over you.
If you have 100 customers, they each get 1% control. But they all pay 1% [1] of your income. So you get to make 100 people happy not just 1. Its a very real issue in this sort of space.
[1] in truth they're not equal. 10% probably make up the bulk of the income. They shout with a quieter voice. When they whisper you jump. The ones who pay the least will also complain the most. About "trivial things". Listening to them improves the product enormously.
It is 100% garden-variety pedantry. Everyone knows the meaning of "work for myself" and no-one is confused about to whom one has obligations. This entire thread is just "well ackshually whoever pays you is really your boss when you think about it!!"
Do they? I would disagree that everyone knows what that means. "Work for myself" often just means "nobody can boss me and I can work whenever I want" which is not the reality if someone pays you. Some of the most stressful and least flexible jobs are one-person businesses working for client.
Read it however you like. I intend to give a realistic opinion based on my own experience and that of other freelancers I know. I've read or heard starry-eyed dreams of "just writing code the way I want to do it" as if that would somehow generate an income. Writing whatever code you want in your own way defines a hobbyist. Developing an idea into a product defines an entrepreneur. Coding what someone else wants for money defines a freelancer.
I don't know what the OP imagines or wants. "Independent software developer" can describe any of the definitions I gave above. It can also describe "unemployed grinding out niche open source project." As a freelancer I have considerable independence, compared to employees, but I don't get to set all of the parameters because I have to deliver something my customers will pay for, on a schedule they agree to. The more history and trust I have with my customer the more input I have into the overall process and parameters.