Ask HN: Who is quitting? (July 2026)

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Who is quitting and why

  • Many posters have already quit, are about to, or think about it daily; a minority say they cannot quit due to mortgages, kids, or weak job markets.
  • Common push factors: burnout, loss of meaning, “theater” processes (SCRUM, OKRs, performance reviews) detached from useful work, and feeling like code and craft no longer matter.
  • Some leave because products feel morally dubious (e.g., gambling funnels) or aligned with rent-seeking rather than value.
  • Toxic culture is a major theme: abusive or incompetent managers, credit-stealing, scapegoating engineers for unrealistic deadlines, and absentee or part‑time leadership.

AI and “agentic” absurdity

  • Many explicitly cite AI as the breaking point: “AI‑first” mandates, pressure to use agents everywhere, token‑usage KPIs, and executives assuming LLMs make everyone 10× faster.
  • Complaints include: code reviews and documents generated by bots, coworkers pasting AI output they don’t understand, and AI used to justify tighter deadlines and fewer engineers.
  • Some are excited about applied AI/automation and leave to work with it on their own terms, but several refuse to work where AI is forced into safety‑critical or unsuitable contexts.

Burnout, health, and ethics

  • Several describe severe burnout, mental health crashes, or health fears from chronic stress and 12‑hour coverage shifts.
  • One person’s disability (partial loss of sight) effectively ended their tech career.
  • Older workers report decades of “management chaos,” feeling that care and responsibility have declined.

Privilege, risk, and money

  • Strong debate over whether being able to quit is “privilege” or “basic fiscal responsibility.”
  • Some couples live far below their means so one partner can quit; others say most people cannot realistically build such buffers.
  • Multiple posters emphasize the brutal job market and suggest only quitting with another job lined up or at least 12 months of runway.

Life after quitting

  • Common paths: sabbaticals, indie hacking/bootstrapped SaaS, hardware/robotics experiments, games, OSS, teaching, trades (butchery, mechanics), EMT work, music, and long bike or travel trips.
  • Results vary: some now cover their bills with solo projects; others burned savings and are returning to employment or freelancing.
  • Many report greater happiness, time for family, and renewed curiosity, even while anxious about re‑entering tech later or long‑term financial security.