Comment by shubhamjain

> I view the events as an experiment in subverting power structures. I had none of the traditional power over others that is inherent to the structure of corporations and bureaucracies. I had neither budget nor headcount. I answered to no one, and no one had to do anything I asked. Dozens of people collaborated spontaneously, motivated by loyalty, friendship, or the love of craftsmanship. We were hackers, creating something for the sheer joy of making it work.

This is one of my favorite programming anecdotes of all time. I have probably read it more than a dozen times. And I plan to keep re-reading it. The story highlights the mindset of hacker that is hard to communicate to regular folks—the simple joy of making things. And why they would hole themselves in their room to make random shit for no good reason.

I remember being always like that. But it seems the ambition of making it big has infected my passion. For anything I want to build, I am obsessed with the possibility of monetizing it. The story of SaaS millionaires only reinforces the thought process. I remember this never being a question when I first started programming. Maybe that's just curse of seniority. I do wonder if it's possible to get back to doing things just for "the love of craftsmanship."