Debunking 5 myths about developers
Many people believe that programmers are aliens capable of performing computer magic. These folks live their lives without being understood by others and are portrayed as both heroes and villains in Hollywood films.In a world where technology is becoming more prevalent by the day, there are still many absurd assumptions about what those who work…
Being in an office with mostly developers, we’re sure most of them have faced these questions or situations. We’ve gathered 5 most popular myths so let’s get into those now:
1. “Programmers are math geniuses”
You don’t have to be a math genius to learn to program.
To be honest, you don’t need to know any math at all. However, mathematical logic can be useful when getting started.
For example, functions in programming behave similarly to functions in mathematics. They take an input and output it. Furthermore, some areas of software development, such as data science or game development, rely heavily on mathematics. You should be good at math in these areas!
If you are interested in programming but lack a mathematical background, simply begin to learn to program, and then you can niche yourself in the areas that don’t use mathematics at all.
2. “Programmers are antisocial”
You’ve probably heard that programmers are socially awkward introverts who spend their days cooped up with a computer, surrounded by empty coffee mugs and bags of chips. Today’s programmers, on the other hand, frequently interact with team members, project managers, and end users. This is how they learn about the software that needs to be created.
Many employees interact with their computers and other electronics for the majority of their workday. So programmers aren’t all that different.
Moreover, because of their flexibility in work hours and relatively high salaries, they have a lot of time and eagerness to dedicate to personal development and/or hobbies. This means that they go to events, spend time talking about interests with other people, and network, which is ultimately what makes a person sociable.
3. “All programmers have a college degree”
No degrees are needed to become a self-taught software developer online. Programming is one of those skills for which formal education is not required.
You can train yourself to be a great programmer by:
- Watching youtube tutorials
- Participating in online courses, boot camps
- Joining online communities
- Creating your own projects
When looking for work, you do not need to be a certified developer. Instead, you must be highly skilled and passionate.
Having a candidate show a portfolio full of cool projects, in our opinion, is more impressive than a degree with no projects.
While a university education is not for everyone, college degrees are not a waste of time. They can be extremely beneficial to most people!
4. “All developers are repairmen”
Programmers do not repair computers. Fixing computers, replacing computer parts, and loosening computer gadgets are all hardware-related issues that fall outside of the scope of a programmer.
Although some programmers may have the necessary skill, it is best to consult a computer technician to save your devices and the developers’ nerves.
5. “A programmer is a male profession”
Some people still believe that women are unsuitable for professional roles in computing because they are less vocal or appear less enthusiastic, but as women’s interest in technology grows, some of them are choosing computer engineering and computer science.
Unfortunately, because of workplace stereotyping and male dominance, women tend to remain silent. They look for opportunities to engage in technical discussion but are frequently ignored. Whether intentional or unintentional, this has a significant impact on female computer programmers.
It’s true, the majority of coders are men. However, the programming profession is not limited to men, this is why we, at BackstageIT encourage young girls to enter and explore the tech world, this is how we’ll shake the gender gap between men and women in the IT industry.
The list above might seem like a funny joke, and sometimes it can be, but if used incorrectly, it can be perceived as a very impolite thing to say. So before assuming things about a profession, make sure to do a little research to better understand what it presumes.