Converting 600k lines of code to TypeScript in 72 hours

Converting 600k lines of code to TypeScript in 72 hours(lucidchart.com)

25 points by stringham 8 years ago | 8 comments

fny 8 years ago |

> The six of us worked around the clock, sleeping only a few hours during the two-day hackathon

Do you guys at least get paid extra for this type of insanity? I honestly can't see myself working for a company that promotes this type of Insanity.

stringham 8 years ago | |

It was not feasible to stop the entire organization from writing new code to do a migration, which is why most migrations like this happen slowly over time. However, we got a lot of benefits by doing a "big bang translation" like not having to link two different module systems (Google closure and TS)

The hackathon was an ideal time to attempt something like this and we knew the scale of the project was huge. Once the project was complete we each got a couple of extra personal days.

It was really cool tackling a project that many thought was impossible and succeeding. We all had the vision that we were doing something that had the potential to significantly improve our satisfaction and productivity on the daily basis for the long term.

This kind of thing is completely voluntary and everyone who participated really wanted to do it. I think we have a really good work-life balance at lucid.

It's awesome having leadership that supports us in moving forward with a project like this.

fny 8 years ago | | |

> It's awesome having leadership that supports us in moving forward with a project like this.

So I really applaud what you guys pulled off as a technical feat, but you need to realize that leadership disproportionately benefits from all this. From you 6 alone, they gain something like 48 * 6 = 288 free working hours. Rounding down, that's 6 man-weeks packed into a weekend! In cash, that's $15K, which means you've each forgone something like $2,500 in opportunity cost dollars.

> Once the project was complete we each got a couple of extra personal days.

If you all really worked for 48 hours you should get at least an additional week off or get paid $2500 especially given the value of what you all built.

paulddraper 8 years ago | |

Hi. I worked on this project. I knew this would come up on HN, and it's a fair question.

> Do you guys at least get paid extra for this type of insanity?

We were compensated for our weekend time. And we did win a cash prize for 1st in the company hackathon. But we didn't expect to win, and that's not why we did it.

I value my time with my family of five. That's part of the reason I live in Utah with a 20 minute commute.

This would be an issue if it were required, expected, or routine. It was none of the those. It was self-driven,, fun, and a challenge. Much more fun than those 2 hr commutes I hear about from some people :)

fny 8 years ago | | |

This is pretty awesome! Congratulations for winning and for having an employer that gives you the respect you deserve.

pjmlp 8 years ago | |

No, luckily I live in a country where such insanities are regulated.

They do happen, but if you don't report the company to the authorities, it is your problem then.

edpichler 8 years ago | |

In general, any Hackaton happen on this way, long hours concentrated on a challenge.

pjmlp 8 years ago | | |

Not in countries where it is forbidden by law to work more than 10 hours a day, unless a specific work permit has been signed off for that specific purpose.

Of course, one can do them illegally and be subject to the possible consequences.