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What are the craziest misconceptions you’ve heard about programming from people not familiar with it? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 8 months ago by gianni@lemmy.ml to c/programming@programming.dev

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As someone who spends time programming, I of course find myself in conversations with people who aren't as familiar with it. It doesn't happen all the time, but these discussions can lead to people coming up with some pretty wild misconceptions about what programming is and what programmers do.

I'm sure many of you have had similar experiences. So, I thought it would be interesting to ask.

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[–] popcar2@programming.dev 130 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (7 children)

That just because I'm a programmer that must mean I'm a master of anything technology related and can totally help out with their niche problems.

"Hey computer guy, how do I search for new channels on my receiver?"

"Hey computer guy, my excel spreadsheet is acting weird"

"My mobile data isn't working. Fix this."

My friend was a programmer and served in the army, people ordered him to go fix a sattelite. He said he has no idea how but they made him try anyways. It didn't work and everyone was disappointed.

[–] Alexstarfire@lemmy.world 46 points 8 months ago (1 children)

And everyone expects you to know how to make phone apps.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 26 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Like, I think I know what to google in order to start learning how.

[–] msage@programming.dev 6 points 8 months ago

If you know Java or Javascript you can easily build apps.

But like in every other software field, design is often more important.

[–] Treczoks@kbin.social 38 points 8 months ago

He said he has no idea how but they made him try anyways.

Uh, I've been present when such a thing happened. Not in the military, though. Guy should install driver on a telephone system, despite not being a software guy (he was the guy running the wires). Result: About as bad as expected. The company then sent two specialists on Saturday/Sunday to re-install everything.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 12 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Ironically, most of those things are true, but only with effort. We are better than most people at solving technical problems, or even problems in general, because being a programmer requires the person to be good at research, reading documentation, creative problem solving, and following instructions. Apparently those aren't traits that are common among average people, which is baffling to me.

[–] zygo_histo_morpheus@programming.dev 3 points 8 months ago

Sometimes I'll solve a computer problem for someone in an area that I know nothing about by just googling it. After telling them that all I had to do was google the problem and follow the instructions they'll respond by saying that they wouldn't know what to google.

Just being experienced at searching the web and having the basic vocabulary to express your problems can get you far in many situations, and a fair bit of people don't have that.

[–] Fribbtastic@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago

My neighbour asked me to take a look at her refrigerator because it wasn't working. I am a software developer.

[–] danc4498@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago

I used to get a lot of people asking for help with their printer. No, just because I am a software developer doesn’t mean I know how why your printer isn’t working. But, yes, I can probably help you…

[–] BustinJiber@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

"Sometimes when somebody called it shows up up here but normally it covers the screen and I can see the name." Like I have no idea how those businesses fix people's phones, when they hear this kind of instructions. Makes me tear my hair out.