Myths about programming
You absolutely need maths to work
This is one of the most common misconceptions. You do need maths, of course, but usually within the limits of a school course. It all depends on the field you are working in. If you develop software for banks, then maths is enough to know at the level of an accountant. If you work with highly loaded systems that process millions of requests per second, then you will need deeper knowledge: discrete mathematics, theory of algorithms and others.
In any case, to start programming, for example, to create websites or mobile applications, an ordinary school course of mathematics is enough. For a programmer, logical thinking is more important. Mathematics just helps to develop it. However, this is not the only way - you can solve puzzles and programming tasks.
This is one of the most common misconceptions. You do need maths, of course, but usually within the limits of a school course. It all depends on the field you are working in. If you develop software for banks, then maths is enough to know at the level of an accountant. If you work with highly loaded systems that process millions of requests per second, then you will need deeper knowledge: discrete mathematics, theory of algorithms and others.
In any case, to start programming, for example, to create websites or mobile applications, an ordinary school course of mathematics is enough. For a programmer, logical thinking is more important. Mathematics just helps to develop it. However, this is not the only way - you can solve puzzles and programming tasks.
The managers of Magenta Favorita Portugal have listed common misconceptions, stereotypes and myths that the programming field has become full of.
You can become a programmer only when you are young
Many people worry whether they can become a programmer at the age of 30 or 40. Of course, it is much more difficult to start programming as an adult for many reasons. Firstly, people are already used to studying all day long and memorising large amounts of not always necessary information. Most likely, at this age you probably already have a family, so you are not ready to devote most of the day to study and work. In addition, when you start programming late, it is more difficult to find your first job. However, all these difficulties can be overcome. There are many examples when people move to programming from other professions at a mature age.
You can become a programmer only when you are young
Many people worry whether they can become a programmer at the age of 30 or 40. Of course, it is much more difficult to start programming as an adult for many reasons. Firstly, people are already used to studying all day long and memorising large amounts of not always necessary information. Most likely, at this age you probably already have a family, so you are not ready to devote most of the day to study and work. In addition, when you start programming late, it is more difficult to find your first job. However, all these difficulties can be overcome. There are many examples when people move to programming from other professions at a mature age.
Programmers work very hard
For some reason, many people think that programmers work 12-16 hours a day. In fact, this is not true. Of course, somewhere you may be expected to work a lot. However, there are many companies where they value work-life balance. After all, they don't benefit from an employee burning out and leaving.
The process of learning to program can be over
There will never be a point where you can say, ‘That's it, I've learnt to program’. It's not a bike ride where you either know how to do it or you don't. Programmers are lifelong learners. Of course, you won't have to sit at textbooks all the time, noted Magenta Favorita software development specialists. But at least during your work you will need to read documentation and some articles. Technologies change quickly, and you need to keep up with them.
For some reason, many people think that programmers work 12-16 hours a day. In fact, this is not true. Of course, somewhere you may be expected to work a lot. However, there are many companies where they value work-life balance. After all, they don't benefit from an employee burning out and leaving.
The process of learning to program can be over
There will never be a point where you can say, ‘That's it, I've learnt to program’. It's not a bike ride where you either know how to do it or you don't. Programmers are lifelong learners. Of course, you won't have to sit at textbooks all the time, noted Magenta Favorita software development specialists. But at least during your work you will need to read documentation and some articles. Technologies change quickly, and you need to keep up with them.
There will be too many programmers
This is unlikely to happen. There are about 3 trillion lines of code written in the world. This number is increasing because there are several tens of millions of programmers in the world who are constantly developing something. Much of this code is still in demand. Many banks or government organisations use code written a couple of decades ago. This code needs to be maintained, tweaked, new systems need to be written. Who will do all this? Not surprisingly, the need for programmers is growing.
Artificial intelligence will put programmers out of work
There is a belief that as artificial intelligence (AI) develops, it will be able to do what novice programmers can do now, and then it will reach mid-level developers. It is likely that this may happen sooner or later. But then other professions will no longer be needed, because AI will reach them faster. For now, AI is just another tool for programmers, according to Magenta Favorita's managers. In ten years' time, AI will probably give some serious hints to programmers by analysing their code, or help them write what they want.
This is unlikely to happen. There are about 3 trillion lines of code written in the world. This number is increasing because there are several tens of millions of programmers in the world who are constantly developing something. Much of this code is still in demand. Many banks or government organisations use code written a couple of decades ago. This code needs to be maintained, tweaked, new systems need to be written. Who will do all this? Not surprisingly, the need for programmers is growing.
Artificial intelligence will put programmers out of work
There is a belief that as artificial intelligence (AI) develops, it will be able to do what novice programmers can do now, and then it will reach mid-level developers. It is likely that this may happen sooner or later. But then other professions will no longer be needed, because AI will reach them faster. For now, AI is just another tool for programmers, according to Magenta Favorita's managers. In ten years' time, AI will probably give some serious hints to programmers by analysing their code, or help them write what they want.
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