Do you ever feel like you’re not as good as other developers? Like you’re just pretending to know what you’re doing and someone’s going to realize it any second? If so, you might be dealing with Impostor Syndrome.
And guess what? You’re not alone.
Many programmers — whether they’re beginners or have been at it for years — feel this way. So, why does this happen, and what can you do about it?
Let’s break it down.
What Is Programmer Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor Syndrome is when you doubt your skills, even when you’ve got proof that you’re doing just fine.
Picture this:You’ve just finished a coding project that works perfectly. But instead of feeling proud, you think, “I got lucky. I’m not actually good at this.”
Sound familiar?
That’s Impostor Syndrome in action. It makes you feel like a fraud, even when you’re doing a great job. And it can happen to any developer, no matter how much experience they have.
Why Do Programmers Feel Like Impostors?
There are a few reasons why programmers often feel like they don’t belong:
Tech Changes All the Time
Programming is always evolving. One minute, you’re comfortable with a language, and the next, there’s a new framework or tool everyone’s talking about. It can feel hard to keep up. You might think, “If I don’t know this, am I really a good developer?”It’s Easy to Compare Yourself to Others
We all know comparing ourselves to others isn’t helpful, but it’s tough not to. You might see someone else’s project on GitHub or hear about another developer landing a cool job and think, “I’ll never be as good as them.”The Myth of the “Perfect Programmer”
There’s this idea that “real programmers” know everything by heart, never Google anything, and always solve problems quickly. Spoiler: That’s not true. Everyone Googles things. Everyone gets stuck sometimes. But this myth can make you feel like you’re not good enough.
How to Deal with Impostor Syndrome
So, what can you do when Impostor Syndrome starts creeping in? Here are some simple tips:
1. Celebrate Your Wins
Did you finally fix that bug? Did you learn something new? Celebrate it! It’s easy to focus on what you don’t know, but take time to appreciate the progress you’ve made.
2. Talk to Other Developers
Find a group of developers you can talk to — whether it’s online, at a coding meetup, or even just chatting with coworkers. You’ll quickly realize that others feel the same way you do. Sharing your experiences helps you feel less alone.
3. Keep Track of What You’ve Learned
Create a list of things you’ve learned. It could be a notebook or a document on your computer. When you’re feeling down, look back at that list. It’s a great reminder of how much you’ve grown.
4. Remember: Everyone Uses Google
Nobody knows everything. Googling for help doesn’t mean you’re bad at your job. It’s what everyone does. The next time you feel bad about looking something up, remind yourself: Even the best programmers do this.
5. Challenge Negative Thoughts
When that voice in your head says, “You’re not good enough,” ask yourself, “Is that really true?” Chances are, you’ll realize it’s just your mind playing tricks on you.
You’re Not Alone
The biggest thing to remember is that you’re not alone. Almost every developer will feel like an impostor at some point. The key is not letting it stop you.
Instead of focusing on what you don’t know, focus on how far you’ve come. You’ve already learned so much, and you’ll keep learning more.
And if you’re stuck, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The best developers aren’t the ones who never struggle — they’re the ones who keep going.
Final Thoughts
So, do you sometimes feel like you’re not good enough? That’s okay. It means you’re learning, growing, and challenging yourself.
The next time Impostor Syndrome shows up, remind yourself: You’ve got this. You’re learning, improving, and you deserve to be here.
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Top comments (6)
There is so much to learn in so little time. These days, it's more competitive than ever. It is essential to realize that we all experience it at some point. It's normal.
You're absolutely right! It can feel overwhelming, but it's good to remember that we're all in the same boat. Just take it one step at a time!
History, character and purpose. Finding satisfaction in programming comes from your own personal timeline. We roll into what we know best today. For me, that's PHP and so I rolled into Laravel which invited me to learn Livewire and Alpine.js. Vanilla JS is not my thing, so Vue, Angular, Python or Svelte are a struggle to learn.
I find the Wakatime Leaderbord an interesting overview of what other programmers combine and use for their work. As you can see, there is a natural flow in it. You can almost imagine their individual timeline. Do they work alone or as part of a team/company? Is it website or app/game related?
Most probably wonder from time to time if it's the right path they have chosen. If other choices would have made them more money, faster, easier or in line with their own character and lifestyle.
The term Impostor Syndrome sounds a bit pejorative. Albeit, your explanation makes perfect sense. To me at least. It's a pity there are only 24 hours in a day.
Thanks @dimitrim for sharing your thoughts.
I was there once!
It happens to everyone.