13 Timeless Lessons from a 40‑Year Veteran Programmer

Insights from a Nearly 40‑Year Programmer

Noah Gibbs, who has worked at Nvidia, AppFolio, DAQRI and currently at Shopify, reflects on almost four decades of software development and offers thirteen pieces of advice for aspiring programmers.

1. It’s Never Too Late to Start

Whether you begin at 20, 30, 40 or even 50, you can become a better programmer than an 18‑year‑old after ten years of practice. Age is not a barrier; diverse life experience can accelerate learning.

2. Try Many Types of Programming

Write any kind of software you can. Experimenting with different domains prevents your thinking from becoming rigid and teaches you a wide range of skills.

3. Don’t Fear Slow Returns

Even obscure languages like the old MUD language DGD can teach concepts that later become valuable, such as ideas that influenced Ruby on Rails and database programming.

4. Find What Attracts You About the Work

Identify the aspects of coding that give you satisfaction and motivation; without a personal hook, the job can become exhausting.

5. Treat Coding Like Keeping a Diary, Not a Sprint

Don’t over‑plan every detail. Embrace the long‑term journey, learn from mistakes, and recognize that every experience adds value to your personal “code diary.”

6. Separate Work from Career

Software development can be a great job, but it’s distinct from a career. Advice about the job may not apply to the broader career path.

7. Learning Order Doesn’t Matter

The specific sequence of languages or technologies you learn is less important than continuously building and refining your foundation.

8. Excellence Makes You Different

Experienced engineers develop unique strengths beyond generic skill checklists; focus on what sets you apart, such as open‑source contributions or leading projects.

9. Learn by Doing

Start by building usable software, make mistakes, then iterate between practice and theory to solidify understanding.

10. Master Both Technical and Non‑Technical Skills

Learning at least one functional language and exploring peripheral technologies broadens insight and problem‑solving ability.

11. Borrow Ideas from Other Fields

Study practices from art, music, aviation, construction, and medicine to gain fresh perspectives on problem solving.

12. Don’t Reinvent the Wheel Unnecessarily

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

13. Just Keep Doing It

Consistent coding over decades sustains your identity as a programmer; perseverance is the most important factor for a long‑term career.