In most of the articles that I have written here about programming, I have probably been focusing on the good side of programming. Today however, things are a little bit different. I want to tell you the real truth about programming. I know this is hard to admit but, I am just gonna tell you. I have been debating within myself whether I should tell you this or not. And the longer I stay with it inside my heart, the harder it hurts me. I have to say it out because I know the TRUTH will set me FREE. And the truth is…
Programming is hard! Here is why.
1. It is a Dynamic Field
One thing that makes programming hard is that there are a lot of programming languages and tools out there. When you get into learning programming, you will always have to start with one of these languages. You will spend 3 months or more to learn the language or tool, and perfect your craft before you start coming up with great programs to show to the world.
Well, is the process of learning bad? Almost always NOT. Most of the times you will enjoy it. The bad thing however is, some news might just broke the internet. And you are told, ‘THE LANGUAGE YOU ARE USING IS OUTDATED! PLEASE PICK UP A NEW LANGUAGE AND START OVER AGAIN.’ This is the most difficult situation you will ever experience in programming (and most of the times you will). If you have the guts to keep going in the field, you will go back, pick up a new language, and start again from scratch. If you are of the faint-heart however, you will toss everything through the window, and go back to eating ice cream (which is always the easiest thing to do).
2. It Requires Continuous Learning
Even when the language you are using is not outdated, some techniques within the language always get outdated. This is just because the ‘guru’ programmers that developed and run the language do not always sleep. Most of the times, they are busy changing a few things here and there, and coming up with new tools to the market. This therefore means that you have to be vigilant and keep checking out what they are up to.
Say for example you were working on a project using a particular technique. And then your friend, who does programming too, tells you that a new technique to do the project even better has just been released. So, because you love your projects, and your ego can’t allow you to stay outdated, you will start learning the new technique to keep being hot in the market. And things don’t just end there. The cycle keeps repeating and repeating itself. Unless you have the balls to keep learning, things are going to be tough for you.
3. It Requires Team Work Skills
When you are doing programming, you are not always going to be alone. Well, if you are just getting started, you might be alone for some time – because you want enough time to work on your craft and get at par with other people who are already ahead. When you get to work on real projects however, you will find yourself working with one or two other programmers – so that you come up with the best work.
And this is even more true when you get to the corporate world. Your company wants the best system to engage with their customers. And you are one of the team working behind coming up with the system. Most of the times, one person will do a particular task while another works on the other. Even when working within the same task, your partners might just come up with new things to add to the ongoing work – all because they have got some new better ideas to do the task.
If you love working with people, you will enjoy the whole process. If you however prefer getting ideas from your cat Kate, this might not just be for you.
4. It Requires Curiosity
Another bad thing about programming is that, programmers are always on the internet and social media – shouting out loudly the amazing things they have just created. Most of the times, you will go ahead to check out what they have actually done. And almost always, you will admire their work. So, you find yourself asking how you can also do that. And this means you will go back, look at your craft and see what areas you need to improve on.
Unless you are comfortable with the second point above, you are always going to find your self complaining why you did not just go into cat-keeping instead of the suicidal thing called programming. Because the truth is if you do not stay curious, you might just find yourself alone in the past, while others are already in the future. And then you will wonder how they just time-traveled so fast.
5. It is Intimidating
I should have probably told you this early enough. Programming is very intimidating. You go to the internet to learn something new, get some code that you think might make your work better, and try the codes on your program. All of a sudden, all you see are some RED very conspicuous lines on your screen. It is a big ERROR!
Heck! Sometimes you just finished working on your project that has taken you the whole day. It’s mid-night (very common to find yourself here), and everything is just doing fine. You have corrected all the errors on your program, and you have the results you have been yearning for. So you go to sleep. The next day, you open your computer so that you admire the good work you achieved yesterday. You run the program. But the worst happens…the program has crushed. Nothing is not working. Errors all over the place. It’s even more worse if you were to do a presentation of your work. Because this means going back over again, to see where the problem is.
I think I just can’t continue admitting this to you. It’s getting me emotional. When I remember all the many times my programs crashed after I have spent over 24 hours to work on them…I can’t keep telling you this. This is emotional. I have to stop here.
If you are comfortable with this harsh truth about programming, then you are good for programming. If you are not comfortable and you still want to get to programming, then you must get yourself prepared – a storm is coming, you best learn swimming.
Share this post with your family and friends who might be interested to know the truth about programming. They will love you for helping them know where they stand.