What If You're Already a “Real Developer”?

There’s a phrase that floats around in tech like a rite of passage:

“I’ll feel like a real developer when I...”

✅ Learn React

✅ Get a job

✅ Contribute to open source

✅ Build my own SaaS

✅ Speak at a conference

✅ Master Kubernetes while juggling chainsaws

We joke about it, but deep down?

A lot of devs are waiting for permission to feel legitimate.

But here’s the truth:

If you write code, solve problems, and keep learning—you’re already a real developer.

---

1. Stop Moving the Goalpost

Many developers keep pushing their definition of success further out.

But the problem isn’t that you’re not doing enough—it’s that you’ve trained yourself to never feel like it’s enough.

Growth doesn’t come from “arriving.”

It comes from building while you’re still figuring it out.

---

2. You’re Allowed to Be Incomplete and Still Valuable

You don’t have to know everything.

You don’t have to ship side projects every weekend.

You don’t have to prove anything to Twitter to be worthy of this title.

You just have to keep showing up, keep learning, and keep helping others do the same.

---

3. You Belong Here

If you're passionate about this craft...

If you're trying, failing, refactoring, reading docs at 2 AM...

If you're googling error messages and debugging the chaos...

You're not trying to be a dev.

You are one.

---

Let’s Reframe Success

• When did you finally feel like a “real” dev—if ever?

• What old belief did you let go of that helped you grow faster?

• What would you say to a newer dev who doesn’t feel like they belong yet?

Someone out there is looking for a reason to stay in the game.

Let your journey be that reason.