Ask HN: Are most of us developers lying about how much work we do?

Article summary

A software developer with almost two decades of experience shares that they have averaged only 5-10 hours of actual work per week, despite receiving promotions and a decent salary. They admit to pretending to work and bullshitting their way through stand-ups to hide their lack of production. The developer wonders if they are an exception or if many others are also secretly not working as much as they claim. They question whether their experience is due to luck, imposter syndrome, or a common phenomenon in the industry.

Main themes

• productivity and work habits
• industry expectations and pressures
• company culture and management
• developer skills and abilities
• work-life balance and burnout
• performance and motivation

What commenters say

• Some developers believe that putting in a lot of effort and working long hours is necessary to be successful, while others think that this is overstated and that working smarter, not harder, is more important.
• The need for 10x developers may be exaggerated, and teams can often work around mediocre-to-great developers.
• It is possible to get away with doing little work in certain companies or divisions, especially if they are large and profitable, but this may not be true in all cases.
• Some commenters argue that the ability to work at a slower pace can be an asset in certain environments, such as in established companies with slower-paced projects.
• Others believe that in many industries, such as tech, there is pressure to constantly produce and deliver results, making it difficult to get away with not working hard.
• A few commenters share their own experiences of working in companies where they were able to get away with doing little work, but others disagree and say that this is not common or sustainable.
• The use of performance-enhancing drugs or caffeine may also play a role in some developers' ability to work long hours or be highly productive.
• Some argue that the culture and expectations of different companies and divisions can greatly impact the amount of work that is expected or required of developers.