News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How can I stop this?. Parent comment

Re:Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How... by danShumway on Sunday January 05, 2020 @12:46PM (#21962608)
People aren't advocating that OP should stop learning (although there is nothing wrong with Software Engineering being a safe, predictable career for some people). They're advocating that OP should focus on learning things outside of work.

A lot of exciting opportunities open up when you don't need to care about money. You can do experimental, innovative stuff just because it's worth doing, and not just because a VC investor wants another cash-out.

Although, given Google's policies towards employee IP, that alone might be a reason to look for another company to work at -- keeping in mind that you almost certainly will be accepting a drop in pay if you leave.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How... by buboard on Sunday January 05, 2020 @01:47PM (#21963061)
being poor is bad, but being cushy is demotivating. “Experimental, innovative stuff” requires a certain level of hunger, or disregard for money. In both cases this person should seek elsewhere.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How... by pjc50 on Sunday January 05, 2020 @04:35PM (#21964286)
You will have a hard time finding a tech employer that doesn't have a restrictive IP clause.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How... by jamestimmins on Sunday January 05, 2020 @07:05PM (#21965249)
Maybe at large companies, but at small companies in California, this has not been my experience. Plenty of employers realize that programmers tend to program on the side, and as long as you don't use company hardware or facilities, they claim no ownership of your IP.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: I've been slacking off at Google for 6 years. How... by danShumway on Sunday January 05, 2020 @09:04PM (#21965818)
This hasn't been my experience. My current employer doesn't have a clause like this, and although they wouldn't have needed to, they also in-writing cleared my side-projects when I joined, even commercial ones.
[ Parent | on HN ]