Veteran developer says loyalty and quality lost out to a "good enough" market

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A software developer with over 45 years of experience recounts starting on a Commodore 64 and progressing through assembly, the Amiga and C. For nearly 12 years he worked for a movie-industry client, often underbidding and working year-round without raising his fees. He says the client abruptly ended the relationship after deciding that "good enough" mattered more than being better. He reflects that underpricing and loyalty were mistakes in a market that rewards job-hopping, though these lessons conflict with his ethics. He concludes that his career may need to change if continued learning requires it.

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