A SuperMap Developer's 996

-- by Zeng Zhiming, General Manager of Big Data and AI R&D Center of SuperMap Research Institute

Recently, the topic of "996" is very hot, I am also going to talk about my experience of "996" and some of my feelings about "996".  

"996" means to work at 9 am. and 9 pm., six days a week. In the IT industry, especially Internet companies and start-ups, "996" is almost indispensable.

At the beginning of the year, Liu Qiangdong(Founder of JD), Ma Yun(Founder of Alibaba) and many other IT leaders expressed their views on whether people could accept "996". Their different views on "996" have once again become a hot topic in IT field.

We can say that for most IT start-ups, they don't have the resources and technology to compete with big companies. There seems to be no better way to develop a business than to work hard together.

During my junior summer vacation in 1999, I went to SuperMap for internship. Just arrived at the company and was shocked - matted on the floor. One of my predecessors (Mr. Teng) was packing up and going out to brush his teeth, while several other leaders were already working hard on the code in front of the computer.

Seeing this scene, I was not frightened, but secretly felt that this is a promising team. All I have to do is try to improve and become a qualified programmer as soon as possible.

For the next two months, I rode my bicycle back to my dormitory every night, ate my supper and slept until the next morning. Although very hard, but tired and happy, I believe that every programmer also has such a growth process.

Although the internship allowance is not much, it is enough to add a chicken leg for supper. Everyone's life depends on his own efforts and changes little by little.

Later, after the official entry, I thought that I had read an introductory book of C++ and that it was enough to develop it in C++. But soon a problem came up, and I had to consult the general manager Hua who was teaching me to fix it. I understood that the knowledge I learned before is far from enough to make the large-scale bottom level library.

In the next half a year or so, I read all the good C++ books that I could buy at that time. Now I can easily name the books that there are Effective C++, Inside C++ Model, C++ Primer, Essential C++, Thinking in C++, and so on. At the same time, I also read Design Mode.

During this period, although the company has expanded, and did not require employees to "996", but work and study, I almost 9-12-7 (work at 9 am. and 12 pm., 7 days a week) investment. I can say that the breakthrough and mastery of programming language was accomplished in this period.

Later, when learning other programming languages, it seems that the starting point and syntax of the language are different, and the language itself is no longer an obstacle.

After my graduation in June 2005, as a project manager, I was responsible for the development of .NET components based on the C++ kernel code base. Since the time of the GTC in September was determined long ago, in order to catch the time, it must be completed within three months. At this time, I knew almost nothing about the C#.

So, I went through another crazy time. It took me a week to finish reading most of the books., which I remember falling asleep with books at night. And I read books when I attend the graduation party. On the second day after the completion of the study, I trained the new team members on .NET and C#.

As a project manager and one of the main developers, there is no commute to work. We would work until we were sleepy at night and then walk ten minutes to a nearby rented house to sleep. For dinner, my wife came downstairs from a long distance to order a good meal in the small restaurant. When the dishes were ready, she would call me and I'll go down to eat.

It should be said that although it was a hard time, I took charge of a product development independently. I led a small team with complete development and test documents, and what I gained was far more than what I paid.

From last October to this Spring Festival, the "outdoor registration" program I completed in my spare time is almost 8-12-7. In addition to the necessary rest and exercise, the rest of my spare time was spent on this small program. Although the user is not many, but can give people who like outdoor activities a practical tool, is also very happy.

It also shows that middle-aged people are not able to struggle. The key is whether you feel meaningful about what you are going to do and whether you have the will to devote yourself to it.

Of course, over the years, I have experienced some "996" which is not good. For example, there is no clear purpose and task, just to work overtime for the sake of overtime. Finally, it is easy to evolve into formalism. Although people are in the company, they don't produce much. Finally, people feel very tired.

In conclusion, I am not in favor of fixing "996" as a commuting time system. Because if there is no goal, no dream, no pursuit, just look at the length of time, people can always find enough worthless things for themselves to fill the time. Such "996" is actually life consuming.

But with goals and dreams as the guide, every team and individual who wants to make a difference must have the spirit of striver in the era of rapid technological development and the rapid development of new technologies. At this point, then, "996" should not be a subject for discussion.

I'll finish with two inspirational sentences.

1. Don't waste your best time.

2. Today you have to thank yourself for working hard five years ago, and five years later you have to thank yourself for working hard today.

PS: We ( SuperMap International team) are looking for distributors, resellers and partners all over the world. For any inquiry, please contact us at: [email protected].