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There’s No “Right” Way to Be a Developer
🚀 "You must learn X framework!" "You should code Y hours a day!" "Real developers do Z!"
Ignore the noise.
The tech industry is full of strong opinions disguised as universal truths. But here’s the reality:
There is no standard path for developers.
There is no mandatory skill checklist.
There is no "right" way to grow.
The only thing that matters? Doing what works for you.
🔥 1. The Myth of the "Ideal Developer"
Every article, tweet, or viral post claiming "You must do this to succeed" is just one person’s opinion—not a law.
Examples of Contradictory Advice:
"Learn every new framework!" vs. "Master one language deeply!"
"Work 80-hour weeks!" vs. "Only code 4 hours a day!"
"You need a CS degree!" vs. "Degrees are useless!"
💡 Truth:
The most successful developers ignored the rules and followed their curiosity.
Linus Torvalds built Linux because he wanted to.
Guido van Rossum created Python as a side project.
They didn’t follow a playbook—they wrote their own.
🎯 2. Your Path ≠ Anyone Else’s
What Works for Others Might Not Work for You
Some devs thrive in FAANG companies—others build indie startups.
Some love cutting-edge AI—others enjoy maintaining legacy systems.
Some code 12 hours a day—others do their best work in short bursts.
💡 Ask Yourself:
What do I enjoy?
What problems excite me?
How do I work best?
Then do that.
💡 3. Obsession > Following Trends
Most "famous" developers didn’t set out to be famous. They:
✅ Built things they cared about (even if no one else did)
✅ Ignored "best practices" when they had a better idea
✅ Kept tinkering long after others quit
Examples:
Mark Zuckerberg built Facebook for fun—not to "disrupt social media."
Satoshi Nakamoto wrote Bitcoin’s whitepaper out of obsession—not to get rich.
💡 Lesson:
Your unique perspective is valuable.
The world doesn’t need another copy—it needs your original ideas.
🚀 4. How to Find Your Own Way
1. Experiment Relentlessly
Try different languages, tools, and workflows.
Keep what works; discard what doesn’t.
2. Trust Your Instincts
If a trend feels wrong for you, skip it.
If an "expert" says you’re doing it wrong, ask why.
3. Define Success for Yourself
Is it money? Freedom? Impact? Joy?
No one else gets to decide.
💬 Final Thought: Be Unapologetically You
The best developers in history weren’t the ones who followed the rules—they were the ones who rewrote them.
So build weird projects.
Learn "useless" skills.
Ignore gatekeepers.
💡 Your journey is yours alone.
"The only ‘should’ in coding is this: You should do what makes you come alive."
P.S. What’s something "unconventional" you do as a developer? Share below! 👇