My friend's dad said that "knowing JavaScript and Python doesn't mean you know how to code."

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ExperiencedDevs-ModTeam@reddit

Rule 1: Do not participate unless experienced

If you have less than 3 years of experience as a developer, do not make a post, nor participate in comments threads except for the weekly “Ask Experienced Devs” auto-thread.

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AssistFinancial684@reddit

It’s an arbitrary distinction.

Knowing how to code in JavaScript or Python means you know how to code (in JavaScript or Python). The level of learning effort required to become effective is relatively small.

Knowing how to code in C takes a lot more effort. It will require that you or gain a deeper understanding of how computer systems work at a lower level (memory management, pointers, etc.). You might need to interact with hardware at the kernel driver level, talking to chips via I2C.

Don’t get me wrong, there are very deep levels of expertise to be had in JavaScript and Python.

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mega-stepler@reddit

If you're able to competently solve problems in JS or Python, you know how to code.

Knowing something low level like C gives you a deeper insight into how everything works. But it is not as important as just being good at the language you're working in.

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Gusatron@reddit

This man would tell Gordon Ramsay that he didn't know how to cook as he used a grater instead of a knife

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martinky24@reddit

The sub is going to shit

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wiriux@reddit

Lmao

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SpaghettiProgrammer@reddit

Maybe we should make a /r/ExperiencedDevsReal

Or a /r/TheRealExperiencedDevs

Or /r/ExperiencedDevs2

Or /r/AmITheExperiencedDev

Or /r/AmIActuallyTheExperiencedDev

Or /r/NotExperiencedDevs

Or maybe we should hide under /r/JuniorDevs

For legal purposes, this comment is meant as a joke.

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norse95@reddit

/r/ExperiencedDevsOGs

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Xsiah@reddit

It's been shit for a while now. This question doesn't belong here, but at least it's not the 1000th "help I never sleep why do I feel burnout" posts.

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mkx_ironman@reddit

Forreal what is going on with moderation in this community? They get replaced by AI Agents?

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SMG247@reddit

Only counts in you write the assembly by hand

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ninja-kidz@reddit

zeroes and ones only the rest are wannabes

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StatusObligation4624@reddit

Pfft, I wire my logic on breadboards with nothing but AND, OR, NOT gates. Look at this guy with his fancy 0 and 1s.

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jfcarr@reddit

Punch cards!!!

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just_testing_things@reddit

With a magnetic needle and a steady hand.

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Gullinkambi@reddit

Oh yeah? Well my dad sucked TBL’s dick and he says that if you didn’t suck TBL’s dick then you can’t call yourself a web developer

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newcaravan@reddit

There’s some truth to that, albeit a bit gate-keepy. There are important core concepts like how garbage collection works that are difficult to understand without getting down into languages like C and C++. But I think we all know languages are one of the easiest things to learn and what makes or breaks a senior dev vs a junior dev is usually things like soft skills and willingness to take ownership of problems.

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Knucklenut@reddit

Great answer. You can code and solve business problems w/ any language. But knowing how things work as close to the metal as possible is valuable.

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s0urpeech@reddit

Prepare for your downvotes

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zayelion@reddit

Its BS

I think i would use that statement if you only knew HTML, CSS, and/or SQL. Any language that can run from command line open a tcp port and access the file system will make you a backend dev. You know that and front end is enough to develop a product.

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dinzdale56@reddit

Sounds like he's stuck doing embedded programming

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be_like_bill@reddit

This is basically the coding version of, "driving an automatic doesn't count as driving. Only counts if you can drive stick".

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kayey04@reddit

Funny thing is that that part of coding is actually being replaced by ai

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ClittoryHinton@reddit

Knowing JS/python means you know how to code in JS/Python. Knowing C means you know how to program in C. It’s that simple. Neither necessarily means you know how to program well.

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hotsauce56@reddit

Shoulda fought fire with fire. Something like, “being someone’s dad doesn’t make you a good father”

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GumboSamson@reddit

I’d have to agree.

I know plenty of people who know a few languages who have no fucking idea how to write understandable code. Apparently, the idea that someone else might have to try to understand their work later isn’t a thought which concerns them.

Being able to write a few one-off scripts does not make you a coder.

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justaguywithadream@reddit

It's BS.

But I will say knowing python and JavaScript doesn't mean you know how to write software.

I started my programming career doing low level real-time programming in C and assembly. I've been doing enterprise for the last forever. Both are full of different challenges.

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Packeselt@reddit

Yeah, well MY father says it does. So there.

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HobbyProjectHunter@reddit

Just like you don’t need to be a pornstar to have s3x. Same way you don’t need to be a greybeard to write code.

If you can interview, LeetCode, solve problems for your employer, you are a software engineer.

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zica-do-reddit@reddit

Agreed! Go do some Assembly and become a real programmer!!! /s 🤣

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gohomenow@reddit

Punch cards are superior.

Protip: number your punch cards.

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pagirl@reddit

well, you can get paid well for creating things in python and javascript

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StatusObligation4624@reddit

Coding languages are just a tool in the box. Thinking C is the solution to everything is like thinking every problem is a nail since all you have is a hammer.

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Xicutioner-4768@reddit

"Knowing" any language doesn't mean know how to code well.

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MissinqLink@reddit

This is bs. They are high level languages but they are still code. C is technically a high level language too but it has manual memory management. Still there is JS and Python code out there that is every bit as complex as C or Rust.

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damnburglar@reddit

How thick was the beard on his neck?

Real talk, this isn’t really a question for this sub but I’ll bite. Programming is not restricted to a language etc. if you can write logic that performs duties, it is programming. What your friend’s dad is doing is gatekeeping in a really weird way.

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webdevop@reddit

Bs. With the inception of languages like rust, C will eventually become assembly like.

That said, I started as a front end developer who can't even code python without linters. I'm a Sr. EM at FANG and there are plenty of people like me.

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