That is so depressing.  I&#x27;m not saying you&#x27;re wrong, or wrong for saying it, but it&#x27;s still depressing.  For years I&#x27;ve taken pride in my ability to see beyond the code I&#x27;m working on, to how that code or other activities (e.g. teaching or even blogging) can contribute to business goals and&#x2F;or make the computing world a better place.  It&#x27;s what we&#x27;re <i>supposed</i> to do.  We&#x27;re told we&#x27;ll be rewarded for it, and sometimes we are financially (thanks boss), but it still takes its mental and emotional toll.  Others will undermine your efforts with a competing project or contrary message, or outright pull a project out from under you, often with the best of reasons or intentions, but it still leaves you feeling betrayed.<p>To end this on a more positive note, consider this: &quot;we&#x27;re not here to make friends&quot; is EXACTLY WRONG.  The friendships you make are the <i>only</i> thing that will last.  The &quot;legacy&quot; of your code will become smaller and less valuable over time, even if it&#x27;s really awesome code; more likely it&#x27;ll just be tossed aside without a second thought by the next developer or exec with their own agenda to pursue.  Your money will be spent.  All of the companies I worked for twenty-plus years ago, their technical and financial assets gone as though they&#x27;d never been, but some of the friendships I made back then continue.  Make code, make money, make friends, but only one of those will last.