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Kevin Hicks
Kevin Hicks

Posted on • Originally published at kevinhicks.software

When are you a developer?

Once you write any code to solve a problem

The answer really is that simple.

It doesn't matter what programming language you used. Or if you wrote code for mobile phones, a website, or a desktop application.

Even if you wrote the tiniest amount of code, as long as you solved something with code, you are a developer. Any experienced developer knows we spend way more time thinking about how to solve problems than actually writing code.

You don't need to solve hundreds of problems to call yourself a developer either. The first time you write code, you are a developer. Sure, you are a beginner developer, but you aren't any less a developer than anyone else.

Whether you wrote code for yourself or were paid also doesn't matter.

Ignore the trolls that say you aren't a developer if you didn't use X language or work on Y platform. These people are insecure and trying to validate that their work is better than everyone else's. They forget what makes someone a developer.

If you wrote code to solve a problem, go ahead and call yourself a developer.

Top comments (4)

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jonrandy profile image
Jon Randy πŸŽ–οΈ

I disagree. You don't even need to solve a problem

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kevinhickssw profile image
Kevin Hicks

True, but all code solves some type of problem. It doesn't always have to be some business or other complicated problem. The problem the code could be solving is providing entertainment, learning how to do something in code, etc.. In that sense both statements are true.

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jonrandy profile image
Jon Randy πŸŽ–οΈ

With that expanded definition of 'problem' - indeed it does :)

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tylerlwsmith profile image
Tyler Smith

I'm into it.