I have read many books. If you can only read one book about how to program in your life , I would say that it is this book: A philosophy of software design: John Ousterhout. It is 10 times better than the next best book.

This model of complexity from the book is very useful:

    complexity(system) =
      sum(complexity(part) * time_spent_in(part)
          for part in system)

For me “the problem with software, why smart engineers write bad code” is the prequel. Not as technical, but explains a big problem

It's very good. And quite short!

Thanks, purchased.

Redundancy groups are full of idealists.

It's ok to be passionate about a topic, but also understand if that topic is still relevant in 3-5 years.

Being an idealist doesn't excuse you from being a realist.

All comes down to whether or not you picked a topic that will be financially viable several years later.

Yup. There is certainly an element of strategy that enters into it. Doubling down on a single programming language or piece of tech is probably not a good idea. Maybe doubling down on a niche field or subject is...

All those who fell in love with Silverlight, Flash or UWP likely agree with you

Yeah, but what were they doing with these tools?

Did that, doesn't pay. Being a technology hipster is like being a master of jazz, it doesn't pay, so you sell out and play pop music.

What I'm describing is actually the exact opposite of being a hipster. From the dictionary, a "hipster" is "a person who is unusually aware of and interested in new and unconventional patterns (as in jazz or fashion)".

And, for what it's worth, following my own advice (I wouldn't give it otherwise), I haven't had major problems finding work. I live a comfortable life: own a house, have a wife and a kid, with another on the way...

Actually, knowing what it's like out there for a generalist programmer, I feel maybe more recession-proof with my highly specialized skill set (knock on wood). There are fewer jobs out there for me, but when I apply to the ones that are available, people tend to be interested in talking to me.

Of course, one thing that helps that I didn't mention in my original list: aggressively network with the other people who do the same thing that you do...

I tend to agree with everything you said.

Was just thinking of this

" - Fall in love with a single topic, regardless of how trendy. "

Sounded hipster.

Fair! Personally, I'm not sure how you can get good at something if you aren't at least a little in love with it.

Here's another take: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75Ju0eM5T2c

Yeah, we need both types.

Over specializatoin is the enemy of adaptation.

It is? I often find that I work really well with people who are highly adaptable generalists. They help me get random things done that I'm slow at, I help them get highly specialized things done that they're slow at.

Amen

Not only are they not mutually exclusive, but if we're being honest, only idealistic programmers care enough to read Pragmatic Programmer, and they read it in the process of becoming a master.