Developer Stereotypes: Decade by Decade
by Eric Preisz · 06/23/2008 (8:19 am) · 12 comments
Developer Stereotypes: Decade by Decade
I had a conversation over the weekend that I thought would make an interesting blog. I'm very curious to find out if my perception of this topic is universal or a take on my warped personality.
As a developer, I find that there are some personality traits that exist within the different age decades of developers. Now that I am entering my 30's, I'm wondering if I have entered into the personality traits that I dreaded in my 20s.
Let me explain by giving my stereotypes of developers-by-decade using an astronomical sign dating column format.
Young Gun (Decade: 20s): The young gun is eager, willing, somewhat confused, and full of idealistic beliefs on silver bullet solutions. Two words that describe the young gun is "exuberant process". The young gun works better with the 40s than the 30s as long as the 40s something is at least somewhat technically savvy. The young gun doesn't understand why the 30s doesn't listen to them and take their ideas about a better process more seriously.
Top Gun (Decade:30s): Top Gun will do anything to get the job done. The 30's can be heard making quotes such as, "forgiveness is easier than permission", or the "squeaky wheel gets the grease". Top Gun is annoyed by the idealism of the Young Gun because it reminds them of the way they were. Top Gun knows they can outwork a 40s something because they are energetic and at the tipping point for wealth and retirement. The 30s is the opposite pendulum swing from the extremes of process and idealism of the Young Gun.
Wise One( Decade:40s): The Wise one is typically pessimistic and is confident about how the world really works. They know how to utilize the Young Gun correctly to help them get home by 5:30 so they can make up for the time they lost with their family in their 30s. The Wise one also understands the concern of the Top Gun and allows them to shoot themselves in the foot a couple of times before saying something...wise. The wise one utilizes the right amount of process needed for the scope of the job. The key word(s) for the Wise One is "balance" or in some cases "surrendered".
Looking forward to your comments on how you fit/don't fit my ideas of our stereotypes. Does anyone want to cover the 50s for us?
I had a conversation over the weekend that I thought would make an interesting blog. I'm very curious to find out if my perception of this topic is universal or a take on my warped personality.
As a developer, I find that there are some personality traits that exist within the different age decades of developers. Now that I am entering my 30's, I'm wondering if I have entered into the personality traits that I dreaded in my 20s.
Let me explain by giving my stereotypes of developers-by-decade using an astronomical sign dating column format.
Young Gun (Decade: 20s): The young gun is eager, willing, somewhat confused, and full of idealistic beliefs on silver bullet solutions. Two words that describe the young gun is "exuberant process". The young gun works better with the 40s than the 30s as long as the 40s something is at least somewhat technically savvy. The young gun doesn't understand why the 30s doesn't listen to them and take their ideas about a better process more seriously.
Top Gun (Decade:30s): Top Gun will do anything to get the job done. The 30's can be heard making quotes such as, "forgiveness is easier than permission", or the "squeaky wheel gets the grease". Top Gun is annoyed by the idealism of the Young Gun because it reminds them of the way they were. Top Gun knows they can outwork a 40s something because they are energetic and at the tipping point for wealth and retirement. The 30s is the opposite pendulum swing from the extremes of process and idealism of the Young Gun.
Wise One( Decade:40s): The Wise one is typically pessimistic and is confident about how the world really works. They know how to utilize the Young Gun correctly to help them get home by 5:30 so they can make up for the time they lost with their family in their 30s. The Wise one also understands the concern of the Top Gun and allows them to shoot themselves in the foot a couple of times before saying something...wise. The wise one utilizes the right amount of process needed for the scope of the job. The key word(s) for the Wise One is "balance" or in some cases "surrendered".
Looking forward to your comments on how you fit/don't fit my ideas of our stereotypes. Does anyone want to cover the 50s for us?
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#2
06/23/2008 (9:08 am)
Hey! What about the Teens? Thanks for your consideration, now I feel left out. ;-)
#3
06/23/2008 (9:12 am)
Teens are angry and often feel left out. 
#4
I exhibit some Top Gun behaviors, but I think that might just be because I'm now a senior in college. In fact, your labels match up a bit with college Freshman, Sophomores and Seniors. I guess the Juniors are the ones who got burnt out ;)
06/23/2008 (9:37 am)
Young Guns unite!I exhibit some Top Gun behaviors, but I think that might just be because I'm now a senior in college. In fact, your labels match up a bit with college Freshman, Sophomores and Seniors. I guess the Juniors are the ones who got burnt out ;)
#6
For example, I'm turning 30 this week and a goal I have is not be burned out ever again (achieving it @ GG currently! Awesome!). I also know that I don't know enough. So does that make me wise yet? ;)
06/23/2008 (10:14 am)
heh, I think the pure age mechanic is flawed. We need a "developer age" scale based on number of projects shipped, maybe with some crunch modifiers added. For example, I'm turning 30 this week and a goal I have is not be burned out ever again (achieving it @ GG currently! Awesome!). I also know that I don't know enough. So does that make me wise yet? ;)
#7
That was pretty much FS's fault for getting me in that mindset of working. Over the course of a year or so it gets beaten out of you as you realize its not necessary and you start to realize exactly how the business world works. Everyone pretty much lets you figure that out on your own. Now three or four years in and I've only done the crunch mode thing for at most a total of two weeks in the last year. I let the new guys learn the same thing on their own.
Some might consider it being a little jaded, I see it more as being realistic.
06/23/2008 (10:49 am)
I'd say the stereotypes fit pretty well, though the ages may be off or even unneeded. I think when you move into the next stereotype has more to do with the environment/industry you're in. I'd say I'm already moving into the Top Gun category. I remember my first year in the sim industry, willing to work all night for days straight, catching short naps in the lobby during compiles, and everyone around me saying wtf are you doing.That was pretty much FS's fault for getting me in that mindset of working. Over the course of a year or so it gets beaten out of you as you realize its not necessary and you start to realize exactly how the business world works. Everyone pretty much lets you figure that out on your own. Now three or four years in and I've only done the crunch mode thing for at most a total of two weeks in the last year. I let the new guys learn the same thing on their own.
Some might consider it being a little jaded, I see it more as being realistic.
#8
06/23/2008 (11:20 am)
@Brian, I agree. I think it's more about experience than age. 
#9
@Eric and Brian - I'm of the same opinion. I think the "human age" is just an average of when most people hit the "developer age."
If I read your categories correctly, I would probably fall in the Young Gun category considering how each age regards the others. I'm definitely willing to work with the other Guns, just to get a project completed...but you would see me going to the Wise One more often for advice and to bounce ideas off of.
Would there be room for another category, a developer that has withdrawn from the world to work alone? A "Lone Gunman" or "Hermit"? When it comes to programming, I think I fit into that scenario better than the rest.
06/23/2008 (12:04 pm)
Great .plan! I always get a kick out of your .plans@Eric and Brian - I'm of the same opinion. I think the "human age" is just an average of when most people hit the "developer age."
If I read your categories correctly, I would probably fall in the Young Gun category considering how each age regards the others. I'm definitely willing to work with the other Guns, just to get a project completed...but you would see me going to the Wise One more often for advice and to bounce ideas off of.
Would there be room for another category, a developer that has withdrawn from the world to work alone? A "Lone Gunman" or "Hermit"? When it comes to programming, I think I fit into that scenario better than the rest.
#10
06/23/2008 (3:47 pm)
Hilarious! I've been a young gun for a long time ... looking forward to my Top Gun years ;) Unfortunately (or fortunately) I don't see my exuberance going away anytime soon. 
#11
So in a years time I will be transitioning from "Top Gun" to "Wise One". I wonder if I'll feel different when I wake or if there'll be a burst of light or something. ;)
Melv.
06/24/2008 (12:56 pm)
Great post.So in a years time I will be transitioning from "Top Gun" to "Wise One". I wonder if I'll feel different when I wake or if there'll be a burst of light or something. ;)
Melv.
Torque 3D Owner Max
I'm 15, but it looks like I fall under the 20s stereotype. Hopefully by the end of the year I'll have my first game on the market, and I'll have learned enough to move on to the 30s.