"But the difference between the programmers I saw in the cafe and the ones I was used to wasn't just a difference of degree. Something seemed wrong.
I think it's not so much that there's something special about founders as that there's something missing in the lives of employees."
I guess this is what has put off a lot of people, along with the reference to the caged lions, right at the start of the essay.
The key message (as i got it) from the essay was:
"one of the things that convinces me that working for oneself, or at least for a small group, is the natural way for programmers to live."
It is spot on, and i completely agree with it.
In the 'Cliff Notes', Paul summarizes it well, when he writes people are reacting to what they imagine he would be saying in the essay, but yes, i guess the essay intro could have been worded a bit better.
Little what i have read of Paul's essays, it doesn't look like he would be intentionally putting down "any" smart programmer, just based on where (s)he is working, and i would still stick to that opinion about him.
I think it's not so much that there's something special about founders as that there's something missing in the lives of employees."
I guess this is what has put off a lot of people, along with the reference to the caged lions, right at the start of the essay.
The key message (as i got it) from the essay was:
"one of the things that convinces me that working for oneself, or at least for a small group, is the natural way for programmers to live."
It is spot on, and i completely agree with it.
In the 'Cliff Notes', Paul summarizes it well, when he writes people are reacting to what they imagine he would be saying in the essay, but yes, i guess the essay intro could have been worded a bit better.
Little what i have read of Paul's essays, it doesn't look like he would be intentionally putting down "any" smart programmer, just based on where (s)he is working, and i would still stick to that opinion about him.