Thousands of jokes have already been made about the rigidly logical mentality that IT workers exhibit. However, we are ordinary people too, and just like everyone else, we are susceptible to certain superstitions within our profession. Some of them have quite reasonable explanations. Others are more like a harmless little bug.
Here are 10 of them within the field of IT.
1. Deploy on Friday night and your weekend will be ruined
Never releasing right before the weekend is probably one of the most popular superstitions among developers. At least it is here at ispmanager. However, there is a rational basis behind it, because if something goes wrong, engineers will have to spend sleepless nights debugging the code, even over the weekend. That's why only the most adventurous guys plan deployments, the launches of important projects, or updates on a Friday. And the most reckless among them plan releases for Friday the thirteenth.
2. If it works, don't touch it
Don't change anything that already works and don't touch code that compiles. Many developers who have failed to follow this wisdom have bitterly regretted it. They desperately wish they could just turn back time instead of being stuck with hours of debugging.
3. If it doesn't work — reboot
Experienced developers believe that any problem is best solved with a simple, universal method — turn it off and on again. This tends to work, and if not, try talking to your server to convince it to do what you want.
4. Error 404 is a bad sign
If you come across error 404, you’re in big trouble. We don't know what happens to those unlucky souls who land on a page that doesn't exist. Will they be haunted by minor mishaps like spilled coffee and arriving late at rallies? However, one thing is certain: a 404 page portends a drop in site traffic and dissatisfied visitors. So we advise you to avoid it on your server at all costs.
5. There are malevolent gremlins inhabiting the network
Believe it or not, according to some IT specialists, affectionate words can have an effect even on soulless iron because the network is inhabited by its own mischievous gremlins. They create 404 errors, corrupt files, and drop your connection. A simple way to please them is to place an attractive picture in the root directory. But a more effective way is to always keep your server in good order, for example, by using the ispmanager panel.
6. A statue of a cat brings good luck
We could not find a rational explanation for this superstition, in which some IT specialists believe. But kitties are cute and adorable. They are sure to lift spirits, and when you feel good, your work goes smoothly.
7. A cactus next to the computer protects from evil
Some believe that harmful computer radiation can be neutralized if you put a cactus next to the screen. Perhaps this is a riff on the idea that plants absorb harmful carbon dioxide.
You shall not pass!
8. Some apps are lucky
The lucky shirt is passe. Lucky software is where it’s at! Some IT people believe that scheduling work in a certain app is good luck. Perhaps there are some mystical powers at work here. But we still think that it's more about the convenience and peace of mind that your favorite software brings you. By the way, we at ispmanager use youtrack for scheduling.
9. Screwing the server lid on before the test switch is unnecessary
Many system administrators believe that if they have changed something inside the server, it’s best not to screw it on right away. They should first check that everything is working. The superstition is based on a simple desire to save time — no one wants to waste time unscrewing it again.
10. Murphy’s law: if something can go wrong, it definitely will
We put this superstition at the end because it summarizes many related beliefs. Here are just a few of our colleagues' observations:
- A task estimated to take 5 minutes will take days.
- “Quick” code edits will have to be made all the way to release.
- If the tester is picky about the design, the layout will be changed dozens of times
- You can't put a beta version on an extension, it is bound to have a critical bug.
What IT superstitions do you believe in?
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