It’s a little curse to be remotely passionated about programming and be a programmer nowadays. Some companies make it extremely dull and toxic with all their additional requirements and managerial practices. But there’s hope, there are good companies or teams, and eventually if you stay long enough you will find your place.

That was my case.

The only lesson you need to learn is to make distinction between your interests, side projects and hobbies and the actual work you need to do ar work. If they overlap that’s amazing, if not you need to adapt. You need to give the company what the company wants (so you can get paid), and to yourself what you want, so you can be fulfilled.