On leaving Yahoo!
Today is my last day at Yahoo!. It's been four years -- more than twice as long as I've held any other job.
I remember very clearly, when I was fifteen and had had Internet access for only a few weeks, building my first web page and thinking "wow! This is fun! I wish I could get a job doing this!" Then I tried to think of big, web companies I'd really want to work for, and the first one was Yahoo!. "But they've already built their website", I thought to myself, "They don't need another web developer. Plus, I don't know Perl."
So nine years later, when Yahoo! contacted me and offered me a job in the London office, it was a dream come true. I sent excited emails to friends and family, I printed out a huge "I WORK FOR YAHOO" banner above my desk at home (in a stolen copy of the Yahoo! font). I know it sounds terribly cheesy, but I really did.
Joining Yahoo! was amazing. We're so *big*! We have our own fork of Apache, our own version of PHP, dozens and dozens of our own specialized products and plugins (I love yinst!). In my very first week, I was already making changes to websites seen by millions of people (the FIFA world cup site). And the resources we can draw on! The devel-frontend list taught me volumes about CSS and Javascript, as did internal training for YUI.
For a young web developer, there is absolutely no better place to work than here. I got to build not just big sites but great sites, working with people who are absolutely at the top of their game in every department -- design, engineering, ops, and QA. Plus there are hack days -- I love hack days! You get to build the coolest thing you can think of, as fast as you can, and show it off to hundreds of appreciative engineers. There's very few places in the world where you can do that.
Yahoo! has made me a better web developer, a better engineer, and a better teammate. I have learned so much from this company, and for that I am deeply, truly grateful. Being a Yahoo has been a big part of my life -- and I know, from seeing it in others, that you never really stop being a Yahoo, even when you're working somewhere else.
So then, why am I leaving? Because I have grown as much as I can. In my first year I grew as a web developer, in JS and CSS. In my second I grew as an engineer, architecting a whole website from scratch. In my third I grew as a database developer -- I became "the database guy" to some of you, which I still think is funny. I'm a web guy! But in this last year I have mostly grown frustrated. I'm not saying I have nothing more to learn, but I need to go somewhere else to learn it.
Comments
Jean-Paul Cozzatti
For a young web developer, there is absolutely no better place to work than Yahoo!
This is so true! I call it Yahoo! University.
Derek Gathright
Best of luck w/ Snowball Factory.
- Derek
John Riccardi
evision
linlin
Love London, Get the Links of London. links of london
London is an amazing city for me, Big Ben, Buckingham House, London Eyes, Red bus, and so on. I had an unforgettable trip in London Last summer. But I met some problem, when I planed to by some souvenir. The souvenir in London is too common which is the same as souvenir in other place, and they also links of london sale were not made in England. Actually, I want some souvenir that is fashion and unique in London, but not is a common cup with a “London” logo, because I did want to buy some extraordinary thing for my girlfriend.
When I wandered in the shopping mall Sloane Square in London, One Classical English style broad attracted me. I was Links of London. I felt loving this brand suddenly. I went into the shop, and found the items links london inside were fantastic and tasty. I thought it was the perfect place to choose a souvenir for my girlfriend. I bought a Flutter & Wow Silver & 18ct Gold Bracelet for my girlfriend. She was very happy. She said it was exactly what she wanted from links of london friendship bracelet London, Fashion, elegant and luxurious. I was also happy with my Links of London choice.
There is a introduction of Links of London, which shows how suitable it can be a souvenir gift to you love.
Links of London design interesting valuable watches, jewelry, tableware and fine, all in sterling silver and 18k gold production, together with assessment of Goldsmiths Hall in London or the Edinburgh Office of the links of london bracelets exclusive mark. Links of London in 1990 was by the creation of Annoushka Ducas and John Ayton, the light that is known for its innovative and affordable gifts and jewelry to establish high-level fame. Brand has developed rapidly over the past decade, with 38 branches and network of senior retail counters,
linlin
linlin
Let us go shopping online for As the internet development, the word becomes smaller! More and more people are willing to go shopping online, they think it is more convinced and fair, they can easy to compare price with other shops, especially young person they like to buy present online to send their friends. As the online shop become hot, good reputation is very important if the company want to development. was recommended to me from my friends. They said they have buy the product from it many times and been trusted! I doubt what they said until I login Which have different shape and pattern .I like butterfly which represents serenity, hope and the circle of life? I love all of them that I don not know which one is my favorite. I called my friends, someone said, and you know another said other pattern. I throw a coin to decide which one I should choose! At last became my favorite I don’t waste time on barging with salesman and money on taxi. Now I rarely go shopping in outside, I found a lot good shop on internet. is a best one.
Long, Links of London has been considered as jewelry and gift industry pioneer and leader. In 2007, the brand for three consecutive years in the UK links of london Jewellery Awards , won the "annual jewelry brand" awards. Links of London was described as "the market can adapt to all kinds of smart casual brand design showing the effect is very alarming
Dirkr
Anyway, good luck with your new ventures!
zhoulili