You know you are a Developer When…
1. Buying good headphones is a necessary purchase
This was the first thing that I noticed I needed when I started coding for hours at a time. I can’t imagine have to solve these types of problems in silence. Even though I loved Spotify before, they have become my best mate. Never underestimate how important it is to have your head engulfed in music, while you are also drowning in code.
2. Daily caffeine consumption is a way of life
I am not a person who drinks a lot of coffee. And I only drink sodas every now and then. That was…until I became a developer. Now…I don’t crave caffeine, I require it to keep my brain going. You would be hard pressed to find a developer who does not have some injection method of caffeine into their system on a daily basis.
3. You have failed more times in one day, than you will succeed in one week (or month!)
This is a big one. I fail all day long. And that isn’t just cause I am learning. It is cause I am and will be constantly learning. Its not a matter of my own level of intelligence, but more a matter of my ability to breath, and start again. It is necessary. The truth is out there…if only I can get my understanding of Ruby methods down…
4. The only thing you do more than drink coffee, is eat (all day long)
Snacking is highly important. Your brain uses up to 25 percent of the glucose in your body. That is part of the reason why we evolved into such smart animals. It is also the reason I suggest you pack a lunch, 3 snacks, and money in case you run out before you get home. If you don’t, you might just pass out in front of your computer. And then you run the chance of ruining that beautiful code that you have been writing.
5. You literally dream in code
This side effect doesn’t seem to go away. I keep thinking of the problem in my sleep and putting together methods and arrays in my dream. Yes, I know, I am a nerd.
6. You have to download an app just to keep track of time
You will be amazed at how fast the time goes by. You are just trying to tweak this one thing, and then you look up and 2 hours have flown by. This is the only endeavor I have pursued where something that is excruciatingly hard also makes you lose track of time. Normally, when I am in discomfort or pain, it feels like it last forever. Now, I am looking up wondering where did all the time go?
7. Talking to non-developers feels like speaking a foreign language
You find that you start describing the world around you in terms of variables and conditions. And you start seeing solutions the same way. But when talking to non-developers, you have to amend your language to make it understandable. The longer you code, the harder that seems to get.
8. Surrounding yourself with toys and games is one of the few ways to keep your sanity
Remember when you were little and spent an afternoon playing with legos, or bouncing a ball? Those days will come back to you when you start writing code. Not because it is juvenile, but because you need the repeatitive motion to soothe your brain and give it a rest. Remember that you have been beating it up to give you answers and solve for x. So a 30 minute ping pong game just might do the trick.
Since I am just starting out i am sure that this list will grow and change. Do you agree so far?