Sometimes it’s nice for hobbies to remain hobbies

I believed this, which is what made me avoid computer science in college; I wanted to avoid ruining my favorite hobby.

After a few years post graduation, where I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and I floundered to find a career, I decided to give software development a try, and risk ruining my favorite hobby.

Definitely the best decision I could have made. Now people pay me a lot of money to do the thing I love to do the most... what's not to love? 20 years later, it I still my favorite hobby, and they keep paying me to do it.

I think it heavily depends on who you're working for.

If they get out of the way and let you do the thing you love how you want to do it you'll get good results for you and them.

If they treat you like a cog in a machine and assume they need to carrot and stick you into doing things because you might not really want to be there, you'll be miserable.

I have worked a few places at many different positions over an 18 year career so far.

I have enjoyed the programming part of all the jobs. I don’t really care the problem, I just like using computers to solve problems.

Sure, of course. Sometimes it works out to follow your passion into a career. I was objecting to the apparent premise that that’s _always_ what you should do.

My first software job I enjoyed. My 2nd/current job I enjoy everything except the actual work. Too much beuracracy, but it hasn't ruined my love for the craft yet. Oh well, I'm building some other skills I didn't know I had in me.

It was my hobby. Then I did computer science, and now I'm at a faang, make more money in a year than my parents in their lifetime probably.

Exactly this. The need to make money from a thing may well eliminate the value one derives from the thing, and even add negatives such as stress, etc.

Not really. I do software both as a hobby, and as a career.

100%. I am absolutely certain that I do not have a viable career as a professional surfer ... no matter how much I wish it wasn't true.

Eh. Software engineers are in demand, and surfers decidedly are not.

I love reading about cooking but I'd hate to become a cook