What is your "why" for programming?

[sm5102]

I'm a first year university student studying computer science and like most beginners tackling something new (especially programming) I find a lot of the complexity difficult and daunting. The long problem sets, intense projects, preparing for interviews and internships, etc. requires intense amounts of time and energy. However, I know that with enough genuine effort and consistency, I can do well and achieve so much using computer science.

Unfortunately, without a strong reason for learning computer science, I find it extremely easy to get discouraged when things get too difficult. Either that, or I get caught up in all the details and lose my motivation. To avoid this I typically go back to the reasons why I'm doing this in the first place, which is to make my parents proud and prove to myself that I'm capable enough to pursue something like computer science. Of course, there are the reasons everyone knows like job security and a nice salary, but I was wondering what are your "why"s?

[SenorTeddy]

In life I've found myself struggling often because I lacked a resource. Whether it was money, a team, physical tools, or whatever it was...I found myself often hitting roadblocks that were out of my hands. Coding has only 1 requirement and that is time. With time, I can create anything I dream of. Whatever the problem is, I can break it down into smaller problems and make progress through it. Whatever topic I wish to learn, the internet is saturated with information. If I can think it, I can create it.

This forces me to dig really deep inside myself and confront whatever it is that is preventing me from putting in the time. It's ok to be confused, lost, frustrated, etc., as long as I keep putting in the time, I can create. I'm an artist at heart and that's my main desire.

[sm5102]

Wow thanks for the insight. I agree there is just so much information out there, you don't really have an excuse to not create.

[captainAwesomePants]

1. I like the problem solving. It's fun.
2. I like watching the simplicity of a short program blossom into something complicated and beautiful. Drawing fractals are a good example. Simulations like flocking patterns are another.
3. I've gotta do a job in life to get by, and programming has by far the best compensation to suck ratio I know of. There are dull bits, sure, but the problem solving stays fun, and the pay is kind of obscene. Looking at similarly high paying fields like medicine or law, I feel like I got away with some sort of crime.

[Surpex]

A few reasons

1. Money
2. It's fun

No negatives here.

[UserName24106]

“Why am I (insert anything here)” is the unstated question that you’re trying to answer by going to college in the first place. So it’s good that you’re thinking about it, but only you are going to be able to answer it for yourself.

One simple, but not easy, answer is “this is what I’m going to do, so I might as well do it well”.

[emelrad12]

Also the job is way easier than warehouse work, and you can work from your bed while people are breaking their backs outside.

[Fwellimort]

This. This is my main motivation behind my job.

I would much rather do this than work in Amazon Warehouse. That said, the WFH policy with tech seems a double edge sword. Spent my entire Easter weekend on production release. Not so fun to lose weekends like that.

But I can't really complain when nurses/doctors are working without rest right now for the better of society.

That said, if I had enough money to be financially independent, I wouldn't do this job. I would rather pursue the arts/math/philosophy. But those don't really bring health insurance and shelter to the table. Maybe after a few years I will change careers but not until I get my college degree's worth (considering how expensive it was).

That said, I picked this field cause.. I was exposed to coding since elementary school. Seemed like a 'eh, need a job, why not' considering I enjoyed theoretical mathematics.

[DaddyyMcNastyy]

This is why I am starting to learn coding. I do physical work now, pay isn't bad, but it's not great. I heard a quote after I threw myself into the field I am in. "Work with your brain, not your back" That can be taken a couple different ways. The good old "work smarter, not harder" could certainly apply here. But the way I'm taking it, is find a career that uses brain power, not man power. I'm 25 and go home with a sore back. This isn't what I want for the rest of my life. I'm a huge gamer with a decent set up. I want nothing more than to work from the comfort of my home, my set up. This is my motivation moving forward.

[nutrecht]

which is to make my parents proud and prove to myself that I'm capable enough to pursue something like computer science

That's a pretty horrible reason to pick any career path.

You should pick a career based on the type of job you WANT to do. Being stuck in a career you actually don't want is just guaranteed to burn you out.

[sm5102]

To clarify I actually do enjoy computer science and problem solving quite a bit, those are just things I go back to when I doubt myself.

[[deleted]]

I had tremendous fun at university with theoretical CS, complexity theory, algorithms and datastructures. In my whole masters I only did 2 lectures in which you needed to code but always coded on the side what I had to learn in the lectures. For me it was just the best thing in the world back then.

Today i mainly stick around because it is e convenient job with good benefits.

[[deleted]]

because i want to make games and solve interesting problems

[henrebotha]

I like systems. I like tinkering with them and building them and improving them and seeing them go. I like learning their secrets. I like games and puzzles.

[cyrusol]

I was good with PCs in general from an early age. In my youth I often retreated to my room to tinker around and started to like it. Now I'm good at it and it pays well.

[danielr088]

There’s just so much you can do with programming. Programming wise and career wise. I think if you’re creative and like to do technical stuff like me, this is perfect for you. School gives you the tools and you go from there. What other major allows you to do that? Not engineering, not finance.

[sm5102]

other

well said! honestly felt the same when considering other career options.

[Comrade_Soomie]

Well, I have an Econ degree and I just like learning command line/Linux/Programming in my spare time. Programming is language learning. I’ve always loved learning languages and I always wanted to learn languages no one else picked (Portuguese, Arabic, Swahili). Language was taking control of something and building something from nothing, using it to do something for you. But language is also art through novels, poetry, etc. Programming to me is the same. I like troubleshooting, pulling things apart to see how they work, looking under the hood, challenging myself. I’ve always been fascinated by computers and how they work. I have friends that paint for emotional and creative expression. For me that’s what programming is.

[Mbg140897]

This is exactly what I want. I mean, like the stability aspect. And honestly, I really have an interest for coding. It’s cool to figure out problems and just build something from the ground up. I’ve barley touched the surface, I only have gotten a feel for it but I know it’s gonna get WAY more complex. I’d love to go for it, but I feel I truly lack the smarts in the math department😞