25 most popular myths about programming and developers

Here we provide you with the myths about programming that scare, misinform, and prevent beginners and experienced programmers from personal development. 

The sphere of information technology for the beginners seems to be mysterious and incomprehensible. Any secret sooner or later begins to grow into stereotypes and mythical images, programming has not escaped this fate.

Who is a true programmer

There are many programming myths that lift the veil of secrecy over the mysterious picture of a real developer.

A real programmer is a superman able to deal with evil viruses, using a x-ray vision, diagnose a computer that is ill and fix it right there.

The true programmer in real life is a bearded man in a thick sweater with coffee stains. At night, he sneaks into the computer to code a little. During the day he hides from people in dark corners.

Myth 1. Developers are antisocial

The main plot of many myths about programming is a social phobia hero, self-contained and reluctant to contact with the outside world. Indeed, the essence of software development is when a developer alone spends a lot of time in front of a computer, intently writing code.

However, this does not prevent the programmer from communicating closely with their colleagues, discuss work issues, attend different conferences and just hang out with friends. In this professional field, the warm atmosphere and cohesion of the team is pretty much appreciated. It is believed that the more comfortable it is for a person to work, the better product he can build.

Myth 2. Developers have a boring life

According to popular belief, developers do not have a hobby, do not engage in creative work, they spend all their time in front of the computer screen, eating semi-finished food. Entering the programming, the beginner who has seen many stereotypical movies fears to face the same situation.

In fact, developers are different. All programmers have their own hobbies: dancing, painting, extreme sports, traveling. The only common issue for all of them is the lack of time for all these joys.

Myth 3. An experienced developer can do everything

In dozens of myths about programming, the developer selflessly solves all the problems that are directly or indirectly related to the computer.

The main superpowers of a true developer:

• hacking social network accounts, banks’ security systems and state enterprises;
• connection to the neighboring wi-fi;
• fixing all possible malfunctions of PCs, laptops, printers and other peripheral equipment;
• installation and configuration of different operating systems.

Sure, it is not the case. In the IT field, there is a big number of activities that are not directly related to each other: some developers deal with hardware, some deal with software, others work with networks.

Myth #4. Developers can write code only

The creators of such legends about programming are doubtlessly not acquainted with this sphere and don’t have a clue how the development process works.

The issues solved by software push the envelope of innovation technologies. For example, if you consider accounting: the developer should make sense of this sphere to create a quality product, right?

The perfect combination may seem the collaboration of an expert accountant with an accurate needs, and a coder who makes sense of programming and understands how to describe an algorithm for a software. Unfortunately, there is no business.

Most likely, an accountant is actually too far from software engineering and basically can’t specify in details all the demands and expectations. For this reason, a developer needs to make sense of financial terms and schemes personally.

Myth #5. A true developer creates everything from scratch

Once received a new task, a great developer takes a seat and creates the whole architecture from nothing. A qualified software engineer does not require another programmer’s help. He is completely sure about each application component and can warrant its flawless operation.

In such a situation, we would not have seen 90% of all current software products that are based on other applications, libraries and frameworks.The programming is dominated by the ideology of the division of labor and the re-use of ready-made system components, modularity. This allows us to simplify and speed up development process at times, improving its quality.

How to become a true developer

The road to the heights of professional programming is so mysterious and uncertain that folk art offers several programming myths with opposite scenarios.

Myth #6. The long thorny way

To be considered a developer, you need to get a profile academic education, don’t you? It is impossible to find a good job without a university diploma, right?

In programming, self-taught people has long been dominant among others. Daily more experienced developers grow out of people who have never attended lectures on Pascal.

Unfortunately, a university is not able to make a motivated employee out of a half-hearted student. Moreover, the interested individual will find where and what to learn without any university. In the IT field, employers are pretty well informed about this situation.

However, it does not deny the advantages of academic education in programming field. A deep understanding of basic concepts, extensive experience in solving tasks is a great groundwork for future work.

Myth #7. Simple and smooth path

You can become a developer spending only 30 minutes per day. It is pretty enough to take several IT courses or see a few videos. If it is so easy, why all the people did not start coding?

We have stopped trusting those people who state it is possible to master a foreign language in a week. In programming, the situation is completely the same. You need information + real experience that will form the only progress formula. If you practice for 30 minutes per day, you will need dozens of years to become a professional.

The path to the heights of professionalism never ends. You should not stop after graduating from college, courses, or after reading many books. A decent software engineer lives and learns.

Myth #8. All courses are equal / A perfect course

Using the world wide web and the book shelves, you can find hundreds of various books, courses, and cheat sheets on programming. Obviously, they all are different. At any rate, they have different authors with their own narrative, introduction style and material selection. Also, it is pretty good because all people learn in a different way.

There is no super course that would suit each student. Looking for the ideal material for all parameters, you can experience a lot of unsatisfactory ones, this is totally ordinary.

Hence, most courses offer potential students a trial period and you should use this opportunity.

Myth #9. You need to start with complex languages and conceptions

It isn’t known where this strange myth came from, however, it is pretty common among beginners.

As in other business, a newbie should pass the path from easy to complex. It will both simplify the learning of many things and will allow you to stay motivated for further learning.

Myth #10. First, you need to completely master the language syntax

Until you learn all the 999 operators, classes and methods, you should not proceed to the next stage.

In fact, it won’t get you anywhere. Regardless of the times you read about function with it arguments and returns, you will not commit it to memory until you use it in practice. Practice in programming is a thing of the first importance. Once you have basic knowledge, you need to start practising and adding new knowledge in the process.

Myth #11. I have mastered HTML and CSS, so I’m a developer

Despite the fact that HTML and CSS are two giant and must kits that hold the Internet, they are not programming languages. It is surely useful to master them, but it will not be enough.

7 awful myths about programming

The great and terrible IT science is inaccessible to mere mortals, according to popular myths. To become a programmer, an adept must pass the fire, water and a number of other tests. However, in case he does not have a unique IT gene, it will not work.

Myth #12. You should be clever / have an extraordinary ability

Newbies who first saw the program code often have deep doubts about whether they can ever understand it. “How to write personally” – is out of the question.

Everything is not as scary as it seems. A good programmer is not a genius with a phenomenal memory, not a talent that is born once in a hundred years. A good developer is an ordinary person who loves learning and is willing to master new things and apply this knowledge. As they say, 99% of success is labor, and only 1% comes from innate abilities.

Myth #13. You need to keep many things in mind

A real developer knows all the algorithms, remembers all the classes, methods and language syntax rules.

In fact, it is enough to have the necessary minimum of knowledge. It is quite easy to google everything appeared during the project development and modern developer tools provide convenient smart tips.

The ability to find information is much more valued in the IT-sphere than a good memory.

Myth #14. You have to know Math well

Several very scary programming myths tell us that a programmer deals with calculating logarithms, transposing matrices and proving Firm theory every day, so there is nothing to do in this area without fundamental knowledge of mathematics.

The only part of Math useful for a developer is logic.

Sure, you may need special knowledge in particular programming sphere, but not in all. So, the creator of games will definitely come in handy with trigonometry. However, you can find ready-made solutions and tools for any task. Considering game development, there are currently dozens of engines that take on all the mathematical calculations.

Myth #15. I need a powerful PC

Twelve screens more, for sureWithout this, the software engineer can not. Such theoretical expenses quickly debilitate the fledgelings from the longing to plunge further into this circle.

Programming language compilers don’t require high power or different screens. You can deal with a customary PC.

Myth #16. Everything in programming has just been done to me

This stereotype is combined with the conviction of beginners that they will never overtake experienced software engineers.

IT is the most dynamically developing industry in the world. You can see new technologies and tools every day. To stay competitive, you have to learn and develop constantly. Information grow obsolete incredibly fast.

Absence of experience can become an advantage for a beginner since it enables novices to not keep in mind the old technologies and tools. A fresh perspective will definitely find new chances.

Myth #17. I’m too old/young.

You can master programming at any age. The IT-world does not close for you if you are 30 years old.

These skills are especially useful for children. Yes, from the age of 7-8 years, the child is fully capable of understanding the basic concepts and algorithms. For children, there are even special languages ​​and development environments, such as Scratch. Such studies develop logic, memory, and analytical thinking.

Myth #18. Ladies cannot be great software engineers

The appearance of this stereotype seems especially strange if you remember how many talented female programmers are known in the IT history.

The fact is that women choose such a professional way more rarely than men. This is the reason for the fact that there are fewer of them in this field. However, there are no objective factors to state that an engaged woman cannot succeed on the programming path.

Programming languages

When fears are overcome, the initial stage of learning can be considered passed. Now the adept is ready to become a real programmer, but there are new stereotypes on the road.

Myth #19. All languages ​​are equal / different

Programming languages ​​are similar to each other, but they cannot be called identical.

The similarity is explained by the basic concepts and the logic that underlies everything. However, each language was created for its own purpose: learning, web development, increased performance, working with a specific operating system. This defines the features of syntax and semantics, as well as additions that distinguish one programming language from another.

In most cases, a developer mastered one language can quite easily understand an application written in another language. However, he will probably need an official language documentation for a detailed understanding.

Of course, there are low-level, high-level and other specific languages, unlike anybody, but they are few of them and they are narrowly focused.

Myth #20. Perfect language

Beginners, coming to programming, initially ask the following questions: “What language ​​is the best, the most helpful and valuable? Which one is ideal and universal for any tasks? What language to learn?

Programmers are very fond of the languages ​​they use, and shamelessly praise them. However, the mysterious Ideal Language is still not discovered in the modern world.

No need to look for the Holy Grail of programming. It simply does not exist. A beginner should simply choose the language he likes and learn its opportunities.

Myth 21. Web development is not serious

For a long time, the PHP language was considered frivolous among the developers. Made using whatever was available, it simply could not become the basis of something big and complex. Now the opinion has changed, PHP has found its niche in the IT sphere.

JavaScript has always been a toy language, suitable only for a simple animation of web pages. Now this language is diligently fighting for the title of the most universal, successfully mastering the server-side development.

Web development is a large and rapidly growing field. Now it is very serious.

Myth #22. Development is exhausting. 

A standout amongst the most enchanting sentiments experienced by a software engineer is the sentiment of a maker. On account of him, programs that can bring individuals advantage and delight emerge from non-presence.

Programming abilities are appropriate in all circles of life: from agribusiness to air ship fabricating and the space business. Developers compose diversions, interpersonal organizations, portable applications – is it exhausting?

Wrapped in a murkiness of generalizations and fantasies about programming, The Magic IT Country pulls in youthful adepts with figments and guarantees. 

Myth #23. Developer = Millionaire 

It is accepted that software engineers acquire fairly. In reality, the compensations of numerous specialists are extremely charming. Many, yet not all.

The interest for IT pros in the work market is high, yet managers are searching for laborers with experience, so at first you should be content with low pay rates and develop a portfolio.

To accomplish proficient statures you have to work a great deal, or to think of and make a truly cool item.

Myth #22. Development is exhausting.

One of the most wonderful feelings experienced by a programmer is the feeling of being a creator. With the help of it, applications that bring people benefit and joy arise from nothing.

Programming skills are applicable in all spheres of life: from agriculture to aircraft manufacturing and the space industry. Programmers build games, social networks, mobile apps, etc. Is it boring?

Magic IT Country

Enveloped in a haze of stereotypes and myths about programming, The Magic IT Country attracts young adepts with illusions and promises.

Myth #23. Developer = Millionaire

It is accepted that software engineers get good wages. In fact, this is true. The wages of numerous developers are pretty satisfactory. However, not all of them.

The interest for IT specialists is pretty high in the labour market. However, employers search for experienced developers. For this reason, you should feel normally about low pay rates in your early days and create and extend your portfolio.

You need to work hard in order to reach the dizzy heights of success or to build a really amazing product.

Myth #24. Beginners are not required

The opposite myth states that it is impossible for newbies to get a job in a company and start earning until they create a solid portfolio.

In fact, there are many internship and junior programs in the market, where the applicant will be able to gain experience on real projects and even get a small salary. In the future, you have an opportunity of a full employment in the same company. In addition, there are freelance exchanges where you can find jobs that match your programming level.

Myth 25. Programming skills are needed only for developers

Programming is a specific skill, and it is necessary only for those who deal with it directly? This is not the case.

Computers are now accessible and smart. With the help of them you can significantly simplify your life and increase your own efficiency. Smart machines can perform repetitive, long-term operations. For example, modern software can generate reports, read statistics, format texts, process video. However, you need to program them for those operations.

The basics of programming should be as natural knowledge as the ability to multiply numbers.