I'm sure there are some who just like changing jobs. But most of the programmers I've known have moved when they could get more money or thought they'd have more fun at the new job. If you're paying well and keeping the fun factor above average, fewer of them will move, since there's a high risk that the new job won't be as good.

I agree but I was just pointing out that it's almost inevitable for some developers to leave the organization for reasons beyond the control of people running the org and therefore it is not worth it to have the org undergo a cultural transformation and turn it into a fraternity just to dissuade them from leaving.

They can often be the ones who love their craft, enjoying evaluating new approaches, spend their own time coding and learning the latest frameworks, and can be the best coders on the team, able to tackle the more difficult problems with the best solutions.

But also refuse to maintain either the software they wrote or the older version that is still bringing in money while the new version is being written.

Chuck 'em. Nobody needs that type of developer.

You can start by not inventing insulting nicknames. If you are in an at-will relationship you risk the other part leaving at any time, and you really shouldn't complain about it.

> Aren't these vagabond workers destined to leave anyway?

Even if not, they may not be paying attention to things that matter to your business, and may ultimately do more harm by staying.

> try something new every couple year and get a kick out of it

Or it's the only reasonable way to get a decent raise. Staying at one job for too long can end up losing you a lot of money in the long term, unfortunately (and make it harder to get a new one when you decide to go looking).