Out for Undergraduate Technology Conference Keynote

I N D U S T RY OV E RV I E W

Joel Spolsky
co-founder and CEO, Stack Exchange
co-founder, Fog Creek Software

Saturday, February 2, 13

Assumption One


Assumption One
You’re not doing a
startup.


Assumption One
You’re not doing a
startup.
Startups are for crazy
people.


Assumption Two


Assumption Two
You’re not going to
graduate school.


Assumption Two
graduate school.
It’s a waste of time and
money.


Assumption Two
graduate school.
If you already have a
Bachelors degree in CS, a
graduate degree is an
expensive waste of time.


Assumption Two
graduate school.
expensive waste of time.*


Assumption Two
graduate school.
expensive waste of time.*
*unless you want to be a prof


Assumption Three


Assumption Three
You can work anywhere.


Assumption Three
Not just at companies that
go to career fairs.


Assumption Three
Not just at companies that
go to career fairs.
Or on-campus interviewing.


9 EASY QUESTIONS
that you should ask about any job before you take it


1 Who will use my code?


Internal code is an
expense.


Internal code is an
expense.
Companies like to minimize
expenses.


Internal code is an
expense.
Companies like to minimize
expenses.
Ergo, internal code tends
to suck.


It’s better to work on the
company’s actual product.


You’ll be making money,
not costing money.


You’ll be making money,
not costing money.
You’ll be friends with the
CEO.


2 Is my boss a programmer?


You’ll learn more.


You’ll learn more.
Your boss won’t drive you
crazy by being clueless
about code.


3 Do I have a quiet place to
work?


work?
You’ll get more done.


work?
It’s a sign that the
company cares about
developers.


4 Can I have two 30-inch
monitors?


monitors?


monitors?
It’s a sign that the
company cares about
developers.


5 Did I write code during the
interview?


interview?
No other way to prove that
you can do it.


interview?
you can do it.
If you didn’t, you’ll have
co-workers who can’t write
code at all.


interview?
you can do it.
If you didn’t, you’ll have
co-workers who can’t write
code at all.
That sucks.


6 Where’s the spec?


It’s easier to change a
design than change code.


Teams that don’t design
first waste a lot of time.


Teams that don’t design
first waste a lot of time.
And their products suck.


7 What’s the schedule?


Pro developers keep
schedules so they don’t
waste time on dumb
features.


Pro developers keep
schedules so they don’t
waste time on dumb
features.
They prevent death marches
and 80 hour weeks.


8 Do you use version
control?


control?
This is like asking if
surgeons wash their hands.


control?
This is like asking if
surgeons wash their hands.
“Germs, ever heard of
them?”


9 Can you build and deploy
with one click?


with one click?
Build and deploy is 100%
scriptable.


with one click?
Build and deploy is 100%
scriptable.
If they didn’t automate
it, they’re not real
programmers.


Important!


Important!
Don’t listen to your
parents


Important!
parents
friends


Important!
parents
friends
Don’t listen to the voices
in your head


Important!
Startups and small
companies are great places
to work


Important!
Startups and small
to work
Stick to product companies


Important!
Startups and small
to work
Stick to product companies
Never take a job with a
dress code


T H A N K YO U

now you must follow me on twitter!
@spolsky

Out for Undergraduate Technology Conference Keynote

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