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
  • thenewred@lemmy.world
    48·
    9 months ago

    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@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      38·
      9 months ago

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

      • thenewred@lemmy.world
        15·
        9 months ago

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

        • MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          2·
          9 months ago

          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@lemmy.worldEnglish
    27·
    9 months ago

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

  • Litanys@lem.cochrun.xyzEnglish
    9·
    9 months ago

    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.

  • Juanjo Salvador@programming.devEnglish
    6·
    9 months ago

    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.

    • survivalmachine@beehaw.org
      3·
      9 months ago

      This.

      My friends/family: this is amazing, you could sell these!

      Thank you for the compliment, but no. Absolutely no. I make plenty of money at my day job. I enjoy making sawdust and wood chips, and want to keep enjoying it.

    • jadero@programming.dev
      1·
      9 months ago

      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@lemmy.world
        2·
        9 months ago

        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@programming.dev
          2·
          9 months ago

          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@lemmy.world
            2·
            9 months ago

            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@programming.dev
              1·
              9 months ago

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

  • BanjoShepard@lemmy.world
    5·
    9 months ago

    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.

    • jadero@programming.dev
      2·
      9 months ago

      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.

  • Scrath@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    3·
    9 months ago

    With woodworking you actually get to hold your creations.

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

  • cogman@lemmy.world
    3·
    9 months ago

    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?”

  • blackbirdbiryani@lemmy.world
    3·
    9 months ago

    Did woodworking before I started software engineering, and I feel like the general attitude to craftsmanship applies well to coding.

  • Specal@lemmy.world
    2·
    9 months ago

    Funny, I’ve been a banker mason (stonemason) for 10 years and I’m now doing a computer science degree.