Re: Amazon used lisp & C exclusively?

David Steuber <david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

Ken Tilton <kentilton@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

David Steuber wrote:
Don't most programmers make money via an hourly rate or salary?

As Lispniks, the best chance we have to use Lisp "at work" is to
develop and sell our own software. Well, maybe the best would be to
freelance at web programming where clients don't care what we use. But
that lacks the advantage of freeing developers from the hourly ball
and chain.

I suspect only the most exceptional programmers will be able to write
their ticket out of wage slavery.


No, it can be done, but it is getting harder. I earned a very
comfortable income for quite a few years with a combination of writing
useful utilities and taking on contract jobs. All of it was done using
the crappy development tools and operating systems KT claims is
ruining all our lives - for me it was freedom. I'm certainly nothing
exceptional when it comes to programming - I'm competant and I guess
experienced enough to know that providing the immediate solution is
only the first part - providing one that is maintainable and cost
efficient over the long term is more important.

I gave up working from home and went back to being a "wage slave"
about 5 years ago. However, this wasn't because of lack of money or
work - primarily it was because I was tired of working alone and
wanted to have more social interaction. I was also feeling like I was
running out of original ideas that I could develop on my own and in a
reasonable time. As a wage slave, I have been able to work in a
different environment with others and take on new challenges I woldn't
get to do working for myself.

I'm now thinking about going back to doing my own thing and trying to
make a living from it again. I'm a bit reluctant though as I think the
sophistication and size of apps people want now is getting beyond a
single developer. However, my needs these days are few - I have all
the material things I need (house and all trappings paid off, good
investment portfolio, super etc) have done enough travelling and
seeing the world and feel quite OK about life - maybe I just lack
ambition (who knows, who cares).

I also think it is dangerous to assume anyone using open source tools
or operating system is doing so simply because it is free. I actually
don't have a problem with paying for good software tools. However, I
do have a problem with paying a lot for a commercial tool which offers
very little in additional productivity, stability or support than an
open source tool. I also don't have a problem in paying for or
donating to open source software. For example, I have paid for Linux
distributions many times despite the fact I could download them for
free because I felt the value of the product justified it and I wanted
to support the work. I've purchased bound printed manuals for things
like emacs, not because I need them but because it is a way of
supporting the on going development of a premium product that is
better than any commercial competitor.

Its a dangerous thing to judge others motives based on what your own
might be.


T
--

.

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