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Why Software Engineers like Woodworking

https://www.zainrizvi.io/blog/why-software-engineers-like-woodworking/

The smell of fresh pine sawdust filled the air, with more floating up as I sanded the last rough corner of the stool. My toddler was happily sanding her own block off to the side. Woodworking was a new hobby I'd picked up. My old ones, coding, reading, writing, had

Having recently picked up woodworking after building my own office desk, this hit rather close to home.

Related HN discussion:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39337923

29 comments

thenewred

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I'm a software engineer who does woodworking, and I approve this message.

But my favorite explanation: you grab your hand saw, and it works. You don't find out that the latest npm japanese-hand-saw-tooth package is incompatible with plywood, and you need to downgrade the package or buy new plywood to make a cut.

MrScottyTay

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Japanese handsaws aren't good for plywood? I've not got one yet so I've not experienced that for myself.

thenewred

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It's a joke about software development tools breaking in dumb ways, and that it's not a problem with saws

MrScottyTay

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Oh, alright. Just thought there was something i should know about pull saws before I finished put my money on it and I wanted to make sure. Thanks

grue

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Woodworking has the same highs as software engineering (and even more if you spend enough time around glue).

ArtVandelay

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I find myself in the same boat, but with 3D printing

Bishma

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I'm not good at making things, but I'm not bad at telling computers how to make things.

chunkystyles

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I get some of the same feelings working on home automation and creating my own IOT devices.

chris

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Been remodeling a house that we just bought and this has been a my experience as well. I just enjoy making things. Software, home automations, wood, anything. The joy of building. I think that's what it is.

Krzak

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I feel like sewing belongs here. And cooking, at least to some degree.

jadero

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Sewing for sure, especially machine sewing. I feel like I've got as much time invested in fighting and maintaining our sewing machines as in our Windows machines. 😛

And then there's that whole transition between pattern (spec) and outcome that is oddly reminiscent of far too many of my software projects!

waz

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Curiously, what sort of fights do you have with your sewing machine? I just started getting into sewing a couple months ago. I'm currently using a borrowed machine and haven't had any major issues yet. I was hoping to buy my own soon and wanted to know if there were specific features that commonly cause problems.

jadero

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Tension. Always tension. My mom had the same battles. My aunt never had trouble.

I suspect that buying a new mid-grade machine or better from a reputable dealer is the secret. I've bought a couple of $50 used machines because I don't want to spend 10 times that or more if it turns out that I'm not going to actually use it. I already do enough of that. 😀

Go find a sewing club and get their advice. That's what I'm doing the next time the bug bites.

waz

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Since my last comment, I learned that my local library has a few machines and a serger that you can reserve time on. I think that is going to be how I avoid buying my own for a while, and possibly a social setting I may learn from others.

jadero

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That sounds ideal. Machines that are mostly maintained by experienced people and a community to help you gain experience.

BanjoShepard

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When I was on the fence about teaching English any longer, a friend of mine encouraged me to try software development because "[I] know languages, and [I] like to build things." I still feel a lot more comfortable with a saw and clamps, but I think he's right.

_lilith

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same but blacksmithing. you can make more tools too

jadero

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I haven't yet started blacksmithing, but it's the next logical progression. Other than a (very!) occasional boat and the odd bit of furniture or cabinetry, I seem to spend most of my time making tools, jigs, and fixtures.

jsalvador

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I've been software developer for +7 years, and I must say I also love woodworking. Since is something completely out of my scope as developer, it requires patient and is pretty relaxing working with your hands like this. No client changes, no meetings, instant feedback... and no dependency managers.

Scrath

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With woodworking you actually get to hold your creations.

This is the reason I got interested in embedded software development.

cogman

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Because you think "Oh, I made a mistake, I'll be sure to fix it later". You never fix it later. You mostly just add layers of shit on top of it and pray nobody asks you in the future "Hey, WTF were you doing there?"