What is Digg?38 Comments
- EnderMB, on 03/05/2009, -1/+30The reason people are leaving is because Google is built up to be the peak of a developers career. The problem is that a lot of Google employees are hired early on in their careers so after a couple of years they've had enough of the good life at Google and look for greener pastures, and for (ex) Google developers there are no shortages of jobs.
In short, Google is a fantastic place to work, but the novelty soon wears off and most developers will leave to realise their dreams, whether they be working for other large companies (Microsoft, IBM, etc) or to start their own companies. Most will choose the latter because they've received training from the best company with some of the best co-workers on Earth. - dpknc84, on 03/05/2009, -4/+13"and Twitter, which's becoming the goto destination for real time searchâ
Uh... no. Fail. - Myztry, on 03/05/2009, -2/+9Ego. Over-estimating one's own role in success. That, and having the cash to be able to afford to fail while figuring out that there can only be so many blocks at the top of the pyramid.
- GarretOhm, on 03/05/2009, -0/+5I have trouble trying to imagine myself working there, but my take on it is that working there for a while probably both acclimates you to thinking big and innovating, and also gives you a bit of a sense of invincibility. The combination of those probably gives people the courage to make the leap.
- malechite, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3I thought this said: "...Leaving to start Social Lives"
- rakeshishere, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3Good advertising about Likaholix and Plinky
- iamronburgundy, on 03/05/2009, -1/+4I just hope Facebook doesn't become the one stop destination.
- factsahoy, on 03/05/2009, -1/+4People quit companies all the time. Who gives a *****?
Buried. - Meocross, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3Unless technology exists that actually rivals the search engine, Google will forever be immortal.
- mmijatov, on 03/05/2009, -0/+2Epic Fail
- mabsark, on 03/06/2009, -0/+2Not quite true, but most likely correct. As far as I can remember, Google has always been far superior to any other search engine.
- ahawks, on 03/05/2009, -3/+4Another Cuil? The last thing we need is another social networking site
- tyroney, on 03/05/2009, -0/+1What could possibly go wrong?
- adulion, on 03/05/2009, -0/+1this is nothing new, apparently google have been sacking a lot of programmers lately. as discussed on kacker news
But "the culture" doesnt match with everyones personality either - dagamer34, on 03/05/2009, -1/+2Considering what kind of website Mashable.com is (human edited search engine), I think this article is a bit disingenuous.
- mabsark, on 03/06/2009, -0/+1Google is challenging Microsofts monoploly on the internet? What planet are you from?
Google owns the internet. There are no other contenders, only pretenders. - inactive, on 03/05/2009, -0/+1What do people even do at google?
- hellokitty101, on 03/05/2009, -1/+2Twenty percent time still exists, but Google has gotten to be such a large company that many of their engineers simply don't have time or brain power left at the end of the day to work on their own projects. It's still a great company to work for, especially to hone one's skills -- the complexity and scale of the work involved is almost unparalleled. That said, I think one reason people leave is because of concerns over future career growth. Google treats their employees very well, and there are interesting problems to solve, but when you get the best and pool them all together, it's difficult to shine. It's a hard blow to the ego, and some leave to be rockstars again in smaller companies, rather than just part of the mass.
- aladrin, on 03/05/2009, -0/+1This isn't news... Since the first corporation there have been people who work at a company long enough to make a name for themselves and then go do their own thing. It's perfectly normal and always happens.
For us, the users, this is a -great- thing. It means new innovation on the web from all the people going and doing their own thing. Google won't hurt for it, either. - chancerubbage, on 03/06/2009, -0/+1There are definately some areas where Google has not done well. Social Networking is one of them. Heard of Orkut? Probably not, unless you are in Brazil. I imagine it is somewhere between MySpace and Facebook in style. Does anyone here use Googles analog to Flickr? Flickr already owned the space, and still does, despite the health of Yahoo. Google grabbed mapping away from MapQuest, and they might get some social cred from Google Map mashups, and mobile apps. Yahoo -had- search, but gave it up to try to be a Portal, with mixed success. Google stole that need and did it right. Just as they made Maps quickly and wisely accessible, without the long load time of an ad burdeedd MapQuest page loading (I have left on vacation without directions rather than wait for a Mapquest page)
But usually, whoever got the leg up first, owns the space. Facebook just neatly scraped the freind of a freind network while MySpace was voluntarily chaotic.
But there are no really big ideas leaving the Google offices, just good coders. - iPoul, on 03/05/2009, -0/+1Looks cheap.
- laborcszanto, on 03/06/2009, -0/+0Awesome. Friend me willie @ http://tinyurl.com/yonrvc
- factsahoy, on 03/05/2009, -0/+0Yes, and they're not all that great.
- mrbugles, on 03/05/2009, -1/+1I think it's inevitable that most people who have worked in some kind of big tech organization will go off and start there own thing, but trying to build a social site is kind of a ridiculous idea. I mean, is facebook even turning a profit yet? The market is saturated.
- EnderMB, on 03/06/2009, -1/+1I disagree on several levels, mainly that the work is harder at Google and that egos are bruised.
Many developers and students work hard to reach what is arguably the top goal in Software Engineering right now, to get a job at Google. If you look at their hiring record they tend to stalk top university campuses and drag the top students and new talents emerging from software. They've been hiring at a biblical pace, but they're still hiring young talent and having young developers leave with their skills strengthened is ultimately a bad thing for the search giant. These budding developers won't work with bruised egos because they've not had any real experience in the big, bad world of corporate software development. These guys and girls are talented, but many of them have been brought up on Computer Science with a strong emphasis on theory and development and ultimately it doesn't matter if you've attended Harvard or the University of the West of England, no university is going to turn you into a great programmer. Only years of experience will do that for you. Google will definitely make you stronger and in the best possible hands, but people will look for greener pastures and after experiencing Google they'll end up elsewhere, either sampling the other big companies, working on a fresh start-up or using their ideas to form their own company. On top of that, a lot of developers are roped into taking jobs at Google that they didn't want (i.e system engineer over software developer) just to get into Google. It's a popular tactic used by many big names, a tactic I've faced once before.
No matter how good Google is as a workplace it'll never rival the fun of start-up companies or working for yourself. No company could ever replicate that without paying triple salaries and 4 hour working days. Most top developers at Google leave because they've experienced Google for all that it is. Software Engineers often stay at their jobs for 3-5 years, so most of the developers are either leaving at that point or have spent a bit longer, enjoyed the free food but are now ready to move on.
Google does have the resources and the goals to solve some very interesting problems, but Google is ultimately a web-based business and the web is a narrow and sometimes boring field to be in. Whilst Google probably do have teams in different fields if a Google employee were interested in Bioinformatics applications or Language design then they'll probably have to move on to realise those goals.
All in all, Google is still one of the pinnacles of a good Software career, but it's not the end goal. Google will never be the best place in the world to work because it'll never be better than being self-employed. Why work for a great company when you can make your own? - orangetiki, on 03/05/2009, -1/+1because it's the internet's version of Tickle Me Elmo. It's the thing the kiddies want so people flood the market with them
- vinshe82, on 03/05/2009, -0/+0Every one have freedom of thoughts. So joining and leaving and choosing is depend on them. One just need to feel satisfaction with their deeds and decisions also.
- factsahoy, on 03/05/2009, -0/+0You're right; that's a monumentally stupid assertion.
- EnderMB, on 03/05/2009, -1/+1It's a clever ploy to get developers to work there, but it won't stop developers from moving on to greener pastures. People's circumstances change and someday they'll look at their job at Google and wish they were somewhere else.
Who knows, perhaps Google isn't actually the best place in the world to work? - williepepper, on 03/05/2009, -2/+1What about AOL? Please friend me at williepepper at AOL.
- HanClinto, on 03/05/2009, -3/+2Google is a great company, with amazing ingenuity. I love it that they are challenging Microsoft's monopoly, and I wish them the best of luck with their future endeavors.
- wuanthony76, on 03/05/2009, -1/+0That is how much useful information ah!
but I have seen more useful and relevant information at: http://www.marketingworld88.com - krum, on 03/05/2009, -5/+3Pretty stupid really - the social site war is over. You would have a better chance of success developing an MMO.
- taox, on 03/05/2009, -3/+1And Google would be an excellent place for an aspiring developer, as, if I recall correctly, they encourage employees to spend a certain amount of time on their own projects.
- casbboy, on 03/05/2009, -9/+4It's a trend but, like every market, it will cap. Considering that over half my pages on digg open with DOH!, error, why doesn't somebody just make a digg that runs right?
- adsatTCA, on 03/05/2009, -5/+0Why would anyone leave? Have you seen the offices?
- elanthedon, on 03/05/2009, -8/+3What's a google?
- smurfz, on 03/05/2009, -8/+1This should be interesting!
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