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I wrote this post with my good friend, Ross Jacobson, who runs The Disciplined Rebel.
Please check out the associated, very short, YouTube video of our discussion!
A lot of people ask me "is it too late to be a software engineer." In this post, we are going to examine this question, and determine at what age it is too late to get into software development.
The Question
This question, "is it too late to be a software engineer" comes from a surprisingly wide variety of age groups.
Some are in there 30s, 40s, or older. Whereas others are in their 20s. But still feel they've gotten off to a late start.
At one point I was hearing this question from people of different ages, and I came to a realization:
It’s not about your age.
Imagine Someone in Their 30s Who Wants to Learn to Code
(If you personally are in your 30s, then this should be even easier).
The 30-something really wants to become a software engineer but wonders whether it is too late to learn how.
The person in their 30s has two options:
- Give learning software development a shot. And potentially become really good by the time they are in their 40s (if not much earlier)
- Don’t give it a shot, and then 10 years later think "I wish I started in my 30s."
Here's the thing though: Someone in their 40s has these same options available to them.
The person in their 40s could focus on the future and get started now. Which might lead them to gain additional fulfillment, success, and/or income.
Or they can never give it a shot because they feel like "it’s too late." Then, when they are in their 50s, regret not having started in their 40s.
And so on and so forth.
You can repeat this thought experiment with your age subbed in.
From Another Perspective
My friend, Ross Jacobson, started playing guitar around 9th or 10th grade. Now that he is in his 30s, that seems really early.
But at the time, he knew other people who started in 5th or 6th grade. Because he compared himself to others, he felt regret. And that caused him to question whether it was too late for him to get any good.
Fortunately though, he kept persisting, and he eventually got better. He ended up playing in a band for several years and got a lot of joy out of it.
Now at his current age, looking back, he thinks that 9th or 10th grade seems plenty early. And the idea that he didn't start early enough seems completely ridiculous.
The thing is – that same level of ridiculousness can be applied to ANY age!
Let's say you are 34 and want to become a software engineer. But don't because you think it is too late.
10 years later you will look back and wonder why you didn't.
Future You, at 44, will think "ugh, if I had only gotten into software development when I was 34, I’d be so far along by now."
Here’s the Rule to Keep in Mind
If you start something today, Future You will never think that was too old to start something.
Are there any limits?
Sure, there are some practical situations to factor in. Such as:
- Cost of education/training
- How much free time you have
- And other competing priorities/responsibilities
Some of these practical problems seem to have clearer solutions. For example, there are lots of free courses and other resources that can help mitigate cost (such as this blog).
Other are tougher. For instance, having less time to learn to code, because you have to devote a lot of your time to taking care of a family member.
But all of these concerns can be present for people regardless of their age.
Age itself is just a number.
If you are still on the fence, there are plenty of real-world examples of people in their 30s, 40s, and beyond who learned to code late in life.
Concluding Thoughts
Yes, there are some practical factors you have to consider.
But most of those considerations have less to do with age, and more to do with where becoming a software engineer fits on your list of priorities.
So, if you are wondering whether it is too late to become a software engineer, here is my answer:
Don’t worry about past missed time. And start looking to the future.
Years from now, Future You will look back and thank you for it.
Oldest comments (5)
Hey,
Is it too young to be a part time front end developer in the age of 15-18? Or having a dream of being a software engineer in this age OK? Because I am in this club.
BTW, nice post
Thank you.
Definitely not too young! In fact, it's awesome that you're already interested in programming and front-end!
""is it too late to be a software engineer." ?
The trick is whenever people ask this question and doubt themselves, they should start building something useable and doable by themselves. This is a good way to prove themselves whether it is too late to be a software engineer.
My opinion is that as long as there is constant flow of new technologies, libraries, and frameworks coming in, it is never too late to be software engineer as this represent a new opportunity for everyone, regardless of age. The future of software work is remote , and as long as one can get the job done, I doubt age really matter.
I always remind myself of Einstein's quote
"Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Imagination transcends knowledge, and if one has imagination to build thing they want, they will acquire the necessary knowledge on the way. Have passion and imagination to build and automate things for the betterment of oneself (and the world).
Never thought of it from this perspective! Thanks a lot for sharing.
“ people in their 30s, 40s, and beyond who learned to code late in life.”
I’m in the “beyond” age bracket. Though I knew a little going in, but never did I consider if I was to old.
Age is nothing but a number. If you have a desire to learn something, don’t let self-doubt stop you.