Thread regarding F5 Networks Inc. layoffs

Total panic

“The machines are coming! We need security! We need quality!”

Amazing, right? For years, engineers were just “resources,” completely interchangeable, no need to listen to them. Now, overnight, they’re supposed to save the company from the big scary algorithms.

So now we get meetings, policies and buzzwords. Security this, quality that. Very impressive words, everybody’s saying them.

But here’s the problem, and it’s a big one: you can’t slap some shiny new technology on top of a rotten, inhumane culture and expect miracles. Doesn’t work. Never has. If you treat people like disposable parts, don’t be shocked when the whole machine starts rattling - AI or no AI.


by
| 3 views | | 8 replies (last 25 days ago) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1kqzasqsd

8 replies (most recent on top)

@19z Last Friday. I think we are cooked.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @26p+1kqzasqsd

@19s uhh... they got ya.

Which Friday?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @19z+1kqzasqsd

Everybody’s talking about it. Tremendous quality initiative. Maybe the greatest quality initiative in the history of software, people are saying that. Nobody has ever seen anything like it.

On Tuesday morning, management announced that the company would achieve:

  • 100% test coverage
  • Zero bugs
  • Perfect security
  • Full documentation
  • Faster delivery
  • Lower costs
  • Higher morale

…by Friday.

And I’ll tell you, the executives were very confident. Very confident. One VP walked into the meeting holding a latte and a McKinsey slide deck and said:
“We’re going to have the cleanest codebase anybody has ever seen. Absolutely beautiful code. Developers are calling me, tears in their eyes, saying thank you.”
Amazing.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @19s+1kqzasqsd

@aq It is "Farewell" at F5.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @190+1kqzasqsd

@fw Nothing

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @g2+1kqzasqsd

I saw they announced two new senior vice president external hires this week, although no business units were specified. That must be at least 10 high level 350k+ "thought leadership" positions added this year alone. I haven't followed f5 too closely for a bit, but what do they think these millions are creating for them?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @fw+1kqzasqsd

@OP sudden change to focus on engineering quality looks hilarious for those who know what’s going

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @ea+1kqzasqsd

@OP many years ago I worked for a company where employee welfare was #1 on the list. At f5 employee welfare doesn't even make the top 100

Bring up a quality issue and you are RIFd

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @aq+1kqzasqsd

Post a reply

: