13 Hard‑Earned Lessons from a 40‑Year Veteran Programmer

1. It’s Never Too Late to Start

Even at 45 I began learning piano, and I believe the same applies to programming; starting at 50 or 60 can lead to a higher skill level than at 18, especially when you bring experience from other fields.

2. Try Different Types of Programming

Write any software you can, regardless of language or domain. Experimenting with varied projects prevents rigid thinking and teaches you something useful from each approach.

3. Don’t Fear Slow Returns

Learning obscure or “useless” languages (e.g., the old MUD language DGD) can teach fundamentals that later apply to mainstream technologies, sometimes leading to unexpected opportunities.

4. Find What Attracts You About the Work

Identify the personal motivations—whether it’s the sense of achievement or the intellectual challenge—that keep you engaged; without that attraction, the job can become exhausting.

5. It’s Not a Sprint or Marathon, It’s a Diary

Avoid over‑planning; treat your career as a long‑term journal where you record experiences, learn from mistakes, and appreciate the cumulative growth over years.

6. Don’t Confuse Job and Career

A job is a role you perform; a career is the broader professional journey. Advice about one may not apply to the other, so keep them distinct.

7. Learning Order Doesn’t Matter

There’s no single correct sequence of languages or technologies; if you forge your own path, you’ll eventually discover what truly matters.

8. The More Skilled You Are, the More You Differ

Experienced developers develop unique strengths; avoid the “don’t reinvent the wheel” myth by focusing on novel problems and showcasing distinctive abilities.

9. Learn from Practice

Build usable software, make mistakes, then study theory to correct them; this cycle of practice‑error‑theory‑correction drives real learning.

10. The Technology You Use Matters

Study a functional programming language and explore edge technologies to gain broader insight and adaptability.

11. Borrow Ideas from Other Fields

Cross‑disciplinary learning—such as methods from art, music, or aviation—can provide fresh problem‑solving approaches.

12. Don’t Reinvent the Wheel Unnecessarily

Focus on creating new value rather than duplicating existing solutions; use existing tools to automate repetitive tasks.

13. Just Do It

Persistently write code; longevity in the profession comes from continuous practice, regardless of age or changing technologies.