| I started programming in 5th grade, and still love it after 40. But the world has so many large problems these days. I think many people decide at some point, there is more reward and more meaning in working on those things, than following the latest Android API diffs. Technology is still interesting to me, but only as a tool to accomplish more important things. Unfortunately, as a software developer - I view the most important technology not to be software, web frameworks, or mobile, but developments in energy, material science, etc. Things that are out of reach for me as a developer. How can i solve any meaningful problems, when the main tool at my disposal is mostly just copying bits from one memory location to another? Thats what makes me depressed and disenfranchised with software development at 40. I'd like to work on more meaningful things, but I find my skills rather impotent given the enormity and complexity of the world's problems. |
In this case I mean if you can conceive a project to better a part of the world, it may be possible to implement with resources you already have at your disposal.
The materials energy researchers need resources beyond the reach of most individuals (and their personal budgets), and in some cases corporate resistance to embedded profit centers.