I’m a computer engineering undergrad in my finals and I really don’t care about applying for jobs, there’s so much competition and I hate just about every one of my classmates. I don’t want to spend hours making shitty bloated proprietary software but 99% of jobs seem to be like that. Is it possible to actually make a career in free software, should I just ditch out of tech and pick something else
I don’t want to spend hours making shitty bloated proprietary software but 99% of jobs seem to be like that.
It sure is. :(
I really don’t care about applying for jobs
Unfortunately that’s not going away in any other profession. Unless you’re a unicorn and best friends with the hiring manager.
I hate just about every one of my classmates.
Sadly, that’s the biggest boon about going to school is networking with people that can provide you an easy in at their workplace and hopefully life long friendships.
Your certifications aren’t going to be all that helpful beyond meeting the checklist HR is following.
Is it possible to actually make a career in free software
People do make money off free software just look at Patreon. But they are the exception. Kernel development might be a in as well.
I just ditch out of tech and pick something else
You’re in it too deep now in my opinion.
Fortunately database developer roles are in high demand if you can stomach SQL and whatever unique cloud solutions they are invested in.
Also, if you want to tame a beast COBOL developers are in high demand too.
If you think robots are cool check out embedded systems.
A lot of sectors need custom software and some of them have a mission more noble than profits. Government, education, science, culture… IT jobs in non-tech places can be rewarding too and you’ll get to have plenty of colleagues that aren’t your classmates. Being knowledgeable about various open source software can be valuable as well career wise.
Tarn Adams seemed to do well with Dwarf Fortress. It was (I think still is even, at least the last version before the Steam release) free until his brother got sick and he worked with some people to create and sell the Steam version to help make money for medical care.
The month before Dwarf Fortress was released on Steam (and Itch.io), the brothers Zach and Tarn Adams made $15,635 in revenue, mostly from donations for their 16-year freeware project. The month after the game’s commercial debut, they made $7,230,123
So about $16k on a 16-year project = $1k a year. He seems to be doing well after the paid release. So not really a success of “free software”
You could end up working for a company that develops free software so that’s one way. My company develops an open source science tool and it’s free for anyone to hack on, run their own copy, and use for commercial purposes, but we sell support which usually seems to involve being paid to develop certain features and fix certain bugs, as well as advise on how to keep their system running smoothly.
