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Do you really want to learn how to be a programmer?

Jeremy Woertink on March 06, 2019

So you want to change careers? You hate your current job/career... You don't make much money, and it's not satisfying. You heard that le...
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Jackson Elfers

Programming is a lot like the Greek mythology of Sisyphus. Never ending, never complete, sometimes things go up in flames you were completely confident about. Then there are moments that remind you the perks of being able to talk to computers.

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Donald Ng

100% and possessed of super power to make computer do some real cool stuff.

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Marek Zaluski

You point out that programming as a profession isn't particularly great for your health and I agree.

I didn't realize the severity of it for many years, though.

What I eventualy realized is that some of the sources of stress that seemed like they were just a permanent fixture of being a programmer (like pressure, constraints and deadlines from an employer) can sometimes be fixed by leaving and finding a less toxic work environment.

And point your point #11:

You will make a mistake, and it could potentially cost the company a ton of money.

It's true but it helps when you remind yourself that it's not your money, so don't take the weight of it upon yourself too personally, and that the more expensive the mistake, the more you'll learn from it, so you'll walk away having gained something.

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Jeremy Woertink

Yup! I totally agree. The actual work environment plays a huge roll in that stress. Some companies are amazing to work for. Some are complete shit. One thing non-programmers need to understand coming over is that if they experience that in their current profession, it doesn't go away by being a developer. :) Thanks for reading!

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Ben Dowen

I really must find time to write the equivalent of this for software QA/Test. Thanks for the post. Good read.

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Jeremy Woertink

That would be awesome. If you do, let me know and I'll link to it from here.

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Mihail Malo

Reading #13 makes me cringe. Reading #12 not so much.
Was the point that it's only 100 LOC and not 1000 or more?

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Jeremy Woertink

This post was written with 1 very specific person in mind.