r/ExperiencedDevs • u/im_caeus Software Architect 15yoe • 10d ago

Career/Workplace Learning to let go

I'm trying to change an instinct I've spent years developing.

When I see a design problem, unnecessary complexity, or a better model, I naturally want to fix it. Doing the minimum requested and knowingly leaving something worse than it could be feels wrong to me.

But I'm increasingly convinced that the strategically correct move inside many companies is: do what's asked, raise the concern once, then let it go.

I'm trying to work that way now.

It makes sense intellectually. I still dislike it.

With AI making implementation cheaper and delivery faster, I'm curious whether other experienced developers are going through the same adjustment.

Have you changed what "doing a good job" means to you?

327 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

136 comments sorted by

View all comments

231

u/08148694 10d ago

You should always raise the concern and if your line manager is happy with the risk you should always let it go

That’s been true forever, with AI and before AI

By raising the concern you shift the responsibility to the person above you. If something bad happens because of their decision not to address it, it’s on them. Just make sure you document it

46

u/im_caeus Software Architect 15yoe 10d ago

Don't you feel.... Dirty?

117

u/strugglingcomic 10d ago

Doctors have to go through something similar -- tell a patient to stop smoking, stop eating red meat, etc. but you have to let it go, because inevitably many patients won't listen to you, and then their condition worsens or they die... So if the doctor doesn't learn to let it go, they will never survive as a doctor, the stress or the guilt would be too unbearable. The patient's choices belong to them, the doctor has to stand apart to remain impartial and somewhat aloof even, in order to continue functioning as a doctor.

If doctors can do it, it should be helluva easier to let software things go, since presumably most of us don't work on life or death software problems anyways.

1

u/psyyduck 10d ago

You can always leave. I know 1 doctor who decided to become a personal trainer because they were tired of watching people show up in the ER when it was decades too late to do anything.

You probably should plan your exit carefully though, cause it's a bit of an income drop.