I have worked with large django codebases.
If they are not managed correctly, you usually get a big pile of pasta.
I have written some tips, how to tackle such mess.
Nevertheless, riding the metro or any other transport service has many pros.
You can rest/nap, read books or even start your working day on the train. It is stress free as you don't need to be concentrated on the traffic.
> Honestly, most software jobs, even "tough" ones with lots of domain knowledge are bullshit.
I agree 100% with this. If you are staying long time at a big corporation, you will eventually become an expert in the domain you are covering. Now, sure you can transfer some experiences to other companies, but mostly the domain knowledge is worthless outside of the company.
It's because the increasing returns to experience cut both ways and cancel each other out. You're more valuable to your employer after you've been there a while, but the job is more valuable to you too, for the same reasons (assuming things are going well for both parties).
You'd be a lot more reluctant to risk switching to a higher paying job from a job you've only been at happily for a month than one you've been at happily for several years.
It's a good idea to stay in the same industry, then a lot of the domain knowledge will still be relevant. I think you can do very well if you are a developer and you are a domain expert in a particular industry.