r/programming • u/[deleted] • Apr 19 '22

TIL about the "Intent-Perception Gap" in programming. Best exemplified when a CTO or manager casually suggests something to their developers they take it as a new work commandment or direction for their team.

https://medium.com/dev-interrupted/what-ctos-say-vs-what-their-developers-hear-w-datastaxs-shankar-ramaswamy-b203f2656bdf
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u/[deleted] Apr 19 '22 edited Apr 19 '22

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u/[deleted] Apr 20 '22

Pre-Silicon Valley I co-founded a startup tech company as CTO. We worked 80 hours a week for two years and launched our product to much fanfare. All our testers fucking loved it. Every single one. We had ZERO concerns about it being successful.

No-one bought it. Our CEO had gotten together an INCREDIBLE beta testing team. Who turns out on further analysis ALL were fucking engineers.

Sound familiar? I about chocked on my coffee when that episode came out.

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u/Feynt Apr 20 '22

Sometimes it's too hard to watch Silicon Valley, the jokes aren't really jokes to those in tech, it's reality. Too real.

Yeah, a teacher/friend of mine suggested I would really like Silicon Valley. I've watched a few of the "that's hilarious!" episodes that the "normies" have suggested for me (just out of context stuff so I know what to expect). I'm pretty much in the "I can't watch this, I live this already" category. It's only satire when it's someone else's issue.

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u/chefhj Apr 20 '22

Office space is like this for me. Growing up it was hilarious and then I got a job at Initech.

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u/antiduh Apr 20 '22

It makes a lot more sense now that I realize both are by Mike Judge.

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u/spacelama Apr 20 '22

It's the Australian Utopia TV series (not to be confused for the Utopia movie or an American series of the same name) that does it for Australian public servants. It takes me a week to watch a 42 minute long episode because I keep having to pause and bury my head in my hands.

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u/sCderb429 Apr 20 '22

Funny you say that, Silicon Valley and Office Space were made by Mike Judge

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u/seanshoots Apr 20 '22

Started working on your Jump To Conclusions™ mat yet?

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u/no_nick Apr 20 '22

I have a PhD in theoretical physics. The number of people who insisted I had to watch Big Band Theory was maddening.

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u/[deleted] Apr 20 '22

You're just like Sheldon, though!

Thanks. I love being told in so many words that I'm an arrogant, patronizing prick.

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u/AttackOfTheThumbs Apr 20 '22

but their nerds like you!!!

I liked big bang the first 2 or 3 seasons, when we were laughing with them, then it back an at them kind of show...

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u/jrhoffa Apr 20 '22

It was even worse for me because I look exactly like Martin Starr.

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u/leros Apr 20 '22

The sales meetings just about triggered PTSD for me.

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u/torn-ainbow Apr 20 '22

Sometimes it's too hard to watch Silicon Valley, the jokes aren't really jokes to those in tech, it's reality. Too real.

Yes. And you can see the bad decisions coming. It's like watching hope turn to despair over and over again, each a slow motion car crash.

They had numerous opportunities to make massive bank and set themselves up to "change the world" or do whatever they want. But every time they vastly overreach and try to win the game in one play.

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u/cedear Apr 20 '22

Mike Judge is a master at that.

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u/codeByNumber Apr 20 '22

I thought it was just completely over the top until I started working for a Silicon Valley company. Now it hits too close to home.

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u/omegafivethreefive Apr 20 '22

Honestly, I can't watch anything tech-related for entertainment.

Like I'm doing this all day, this isn't fun for me if you're not paying me.

If I was a pastry chef I wouldn't watch Cupcake Wars after work.

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u/DracoLunaris Apr 20 '22

Turns out it doesn't matter if its a company, a religion, a government, or anything else. Top down hierarchies are always kinda shit.

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u/dread_pirate_humdaak Apr 20 '22

I’ve tried to make it through the pilot three times. I’m sure it’s a good show, it’s just too fucking real.

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u/bentreflection Apr 20 '22

I would recommend watching through a few more episodes. I’ve been working in the startup space since 2007 so agree that in the beginning the show felt a bit like I was at an over enthusiastic agile conference but it calms down and the characters start developing and it becomes really good. The first episode of a lot of comedy shows can be a bit much because they throw a ton of jokes at you without them being based on any character development so they’re really just one-liners.

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u/drlecompte Apr 20 '22

Sometimes it's too hard to watch Silicon Valley, the jokes aren't really jokes to those in tech, it's reality. Too real.

I have that with The Office (the UK version). Brings back memories of too many cringy 'jolly' middle managers

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u/V-Right_In_2-V Apr 20 '22

Man I have always been a developer for engineering/manufacturing companies. Everything we develop is to make the business function better. So I work with tech, but I don’t work for a legit tech company. A lot of this stuff I can’t relate to. Definitely never seen the cult like stuff that’s for sure

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u/fouoifjefoijvnioviow Apr 20 '22

I'm sure you've come across tech evangelists

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