Ask HN: What tech job would let me get away with the least real work possible?

kept by eddie jan 12

In a 2025 Ask HN thread, developers share that low-effort tech jobs exist in government, defense, and internal tools, though many warn such roles are soul-crushing and suggest addressing deeper unhappiness instead.

You’re not burnt out, you’re existentially starving
The piece argues that many modern professionals mislabel a lack of meaning and purpose as burnout, calling it 'existential starvation' instead.
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How to Attend Meetings
HN commenters largely agree with slide-deck advice on declining useless meetings but cite cultural resistance and lack of enforcement as barriers.
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Nobody Gets Promoted for Simplicity – Terrible Software
Engineering cultures reward complex over simple solutions in interviews, design reviews, and promotions, creating incentives that penalize engineers who avoid unnecessary complexity.
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