Now, I'm not suggesting they provide any less of a service, but I've eaten at taco carts that expect the same level of tipping (15-20%). These are places that the server definitely _could_ also eat at. If they are making the same amount of money (and possibly more), why is it still the customers responsibility to tip? At that point it isn't for the employee to make up for low wages. It is also usually paid prior to receiving your food, so it isn't for improved service. In this case the business could increase the base price and reject tips. If they directed that money to employees it would make budgeting easier for them and make no difference to the customers.
Quick question. Is the 80k an example you threw out, or a reasonable amount for a junior dev to make? Specifically for a a mid-sized company in the States, outside of Silicon Valley.
Currently working as a junior dev and the senior devs feel I'm making less than I should be. Which is much less than that 80k. The only caveat being that my employer is also paying for part of my tuition (up to a max of $5000 a year). Previously, this seemed like a decent increase with what I was making, but adding that 5k to my wage and I'm still nowhere near the 80k.
I'm throwing out this comment as it seems like it would be beneficial to other junior devs to have a ballpark amount to shoot for. Obviously other factors play into this (e.g. healthcare, location, etc). This just seems like a decent play to ask without breaking taboo with local devs.
It's obviously location dependent, but in most any booming US city (Seattle, Denver, Austin, etc.) a junior dev should be making at least 80k unless they are truly green.
This is completely dependent on your location and the size of the company. E.g., when I recently looked into the stats for Germany, the average annual income for a developer in a small to medium-sized company is ~48k€ (~55k$), which is a long way from the 80k figure.
Google around, check Glassdoor for dev jobs in your city. If you feel that you're under paid bring it up at your next review. If they refuse to give you more start to look for other jobs.
If you need a portable version, it is available on iOS (and realMyst is available on Android) and a demo is available for both. It is also available on DS and PSP but I wouldn't recommend those version as much. I've played the iOS version and touch controls offer a good recreation of the original. Though I would recommend it for replaying the game, not playing it the first time. Some of the immersion is lost on playing a device that can provide other distractions. For me, playing through while sitting down at a screen with a notebook next to you for tracking things you find, is the best way to play for the first time.
Did you play it around the years that it first released, or in later years?
I didn't play it until the Windows release, but even then, it was vastly different from many games available at that time. The graphics were very obviously ahead of most games. While many games do so now (and some over do it), Myst provided a very cinematic experience. Most of all though was the immersion. Many games had addicting gameplay, but few tried to captivate the player in the same way Myst did. It is of course a point of preference, but it did a lot to draw in the player. Not all of the clues were known to be clues at the time. You could discover something and not know what it did until later on. Then it became a point of realization. You weren't playing the role of a super soldier or simulating someone else. You as the player were the one discovering pieces of this world and helping it unfold.
This was extremely captivating. Even to those of a young age who didn't entirely get it. It just provided a different experience from most games at the time. An experience that has been emulated through different means like flash games, but hasn't been recreated in a meaningful way.
Super simple web connection switchboard by Gorhill (person behind uBlock Origin).
It allows you to assign certain addresses and elements to block calls from/to. For example 'www.google-analytics.com'. I use it as a catch-all when loading a web page, then release elements that I want to load.
Do you have any recommendations for indoor bikes/trainer that you've used?
I agree that it is extremely beneficial. Though my cycling is only done to and from work. I've thought about getting a cycling machine with a reading/laptop platform for indoor use, but it's hard to identify what I'm actually looking for since they're a bit different from bikes and I've never used one.
I hook it up to a bike computer (Garmin Edge 520) and an app called TrainerRoad (https://www.trainerroad.com/platforms). It's a bit of an investment, but I find that having numbers/instrumentation makes things exciting especially when tracking your progress.
My bike and my bike trainer are in my top ten best purchases ever in terms of the value they've given (increased energy, increased fitness).
Instead of spending lot of money on cycling machine, look for "Magnet Steel Bike Bicycle Indoor Exercise Trainer" on amazon. Decent stand to use your bike indoors for $50-$60
Thanks for the recommendation. I've looked at trainers like that and some look solid. I might just have to go for one. It's just hard to gauge quality versus something like a Kickr Snap.
If you have the cash there are some great electronic resistance direct drive indoor trainers you attach a real bike to. Search Google for zwift enabled trainers (brands like tacx)
Seconding the recommendations for a cheap trainer + Zwift. Also, if the weather is good, find a local club to ride with outside. Although indoor training is great, nothing releases endorphins like an outdoor ride with some friends.
When you say 'run of the mill degree' are you referring to Associates, Bachelor, or higher? Additionally, do you know how the data you shared compares to individuals with technical certificates?
This is something that I struggle with personally. I'm a junior dev and a part time student. I got the development job after working desktop support at the same company. My technical experience is entirely self taught. I only started going to school because my manager felt that I should receive a formal education as most of the senior devs have.
My issues with it are the cost and the level of education I'm receiving. To give everyone an example, my first database class taught MS Excel and moved to MS Access. This is from a college that is charging me thousands of dollars a year. While at work, I've developed multiple enterprise applications and setup entire SQL Server environments. I feel like I'm receiving way more training from work than from school. This is supported by the extremely positive reviews I've received from senior devs and my manager. And when I say cost of school, it isn't just the amount that I pay out of pocket. It's the time as well. I spend about 16 hours in class each week during business hours. Another 10 to 12 hours at home is spent doing homework or studying. An entire day is spent each week dedicated to school while working 40 hours a week. This makes for a pretty stressful situation. I'm on the edge of breaking down, but I make great money so I feel like I can't complain.
And yes, I know this is very specific to my situation. I could have chosen not to get a full time job and just gone to school instead. However, that would mean giving up starting a career early, which I think is much more valuable. If I can get a job without any education, the experience I have seems to be more valuable than the education. This leads me to believe that I should spend that 20+ hours learning independently instead of going to school. I'd save money that way, time, stress, and I'd likely be at a higher technical level than school has brought me to.
I know this comment doesn't help you out very much. I just wanted to share my situation as someone in the position that your son may be in the future. If I would have known how much I would have learned from work, I would have chosen not to go back to school. The only thing keeping me from stopping is that the senior devs have degrees in higher education and, though most of them are twice my age, I feel like I should keep up with them. Each of them is extremely supportive of both my work and school and I feel like dropping out would be letting them down.
You have a good job and you can get another, you already have valuable skills and work experience.
Unlike many of your classmates, you do not have an urgent need to gain a means to support yourself. When you are next in class, look around and appreciate the rarity of your circumstance.
Enjoy the liberty you have to pursue knowledge solely for edification and personal expansion. You can work towards a degree in any subject that interests you. Enjoy a liberal education.
I have two cameras on me when I ride. One is the Fly6 rear cam shown in this article. The other is a helmet mounted GoPro. I would not ride without them for a lot of the reason brought up in the article. Not only were they helpful after the two accidents that I've had, but they also help out for everyday riding. As folks drive much better when they see a camera strapped to your head.
Now, I'm not suggesting they provide any less of a service, but I've eaten at taco carts that expect the same level of tipping (15-20%). These are places that the server definitely _could_ also eat at. If they are making the same amount of money (and possibly more), why is it still the customers responsibility to tip? At that point it isn't for the employee to make up for low wages. It is also usually paid prior to receiving your food, so it isn't for improved service. In this case the business could increase the base price and reject tips. If they directed that money to employees it would make budgeting easier for them and make no difference to the customers.