Software engineering is not a flat domain.<p>I work in a web-based e-commerce outfit with 30+ other SEs who are all really into their work, smart, and committed to doing the Right Thing. This is a good gig.<p>If I was working on a COBOL app on a mainframe where all the documentation was in German - and I was offered the chance to interview for that gig just a year ago - I doubt I would have as much fun.<p>As a Ruby&#x2F;Go&#x2F;Rust&#x2F;Python type of developer, I suspect - but can&#x27;t be certain - my days are more fun than a Java developers. They all seem miserable, anyway.<p>I don&#x27;t wear a tie. I don&#x27;t wear a suit. Nobody cares if I&#x27;m a few minutes late in as long as I make stand-up. Nobody cares if I work from home if I feel like it as long as I make core meetings in person.<p>Would I get that writing J2EE code for a large corporate? Probably not.<p>Would the people who enjoy those environments enjoy working in a startup? Or a games dev house? Or where I work? Probably not.<p>I think the best thing about a Software Engineer is we kind find places that fit us culturally more easily than many other industries: medicine, law, most heavy industry, etc. all have a very strong culture that absorbs almost all players in that field.