I remember after I had completed all the Game Development lessons (especially Game Development 1 and 2) on CodeCombat, my final task was to create ...
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I feel especially stupid if I step back in after being out of that headspace for a week for any reason.
Correct @ben 😁
Haha, yes! 😁 Been there, done that!
if you've never felt stupid coding... you haven't been coding long enough... or lack self reflection :D
...or you have reasonable expectations towards yourself and know that programming isn't easy and even experts have blind spots that they will occasionally stumble over :)
Absolutely this!!
Well said, and I agree! 🙂
I have been coding for 12+ years and I still feel stupid every day or every week. If you don't feel stupid anymore you're not challenging yourself enough.
When I get overwhelmed, which happens more than I like to admit, I try to look for the next little piece I can chop of the big rock. I might not see the bigger picture yet, but you probably now at least how to do some part of the task, even if it's just writing a function to calculate something small. Or I try to brainstorm a bit with my favourite LLM at that point.
Just like an adventure game, you won't finish the game if you don't set a foot out of the starter area! Good luck!
Same. Each weekend I think back the work I've done and what's up the coming week.
And this feeling of being stupid is always lurking behind; even when I google some issue I feel stupid while typing it! 😂
But it's all worth it! And in the times of AI, anything I'm solving through my sheer knowledge and experience makes me feel happy. So, yeah, everything's worth it! ✅
Every new concept left me feeling stupid the first few times I touched on them.
The language I ever learned was Python. Even after a few months of writing basic little scripts, I just couldn't wrap my head around importing libraries, modular programming, or even how hashmaps work.
A couple years later I felt pretty dumb or too "high level" or "non technical" trying to understand pointers and memory management in C++.
Then I had to take a course on assembly... hahaha.
Proud of how far I've come and every time I run into a roadblock, I just remind myself that I've been there/done that and always persevere. You're not stupid, you're just stepping out of your comfort zone!
All. the. time.
Indeed. I believe we all do.
all the time! i've been in this career for over 10 years and i manage to find myself at some sort of road block once a day, lol. but learning is a skill in and of itself so i've given myself some grace whenever i feel a little stupid -- maybe take a nap or something.
Yes, I do sometimes feel stupid while learning to code, especially when I get stuck on something that seems simple or make mistakes I think I shouldn’t. It can be frustrating to spend hours debugging or trying to understand a concept that others grasp quickly. But I’ve come to realize that feeling this way is a normal part of the learning process. Coding is like learning a new language mixed with problem-solving, and it takes time, practice, and patience. Every mistake is actually a step toward understanding, and those moments of confusion often lead to the biggest breakthroughs.
I felt particularly dumb when forgetting basic OOP concepts like ref types vs value types. Like obviously if I assigned an instance of a class to a variable then modify a property on said variable it'll modify the original class instance. 😅 Same memory address 🤦🏼 Especially with strings lol
Me, confidently writing print("Hello World"): I'm basically a software engineer now.
Also me, 5 minutes later after a missing semicolon breaks the universe: Maybe farming isn't such a bad career after all...
Thanks for the laugh and the reminder that we’re all in this chaotic, bug-filled boat together 😂💻🐛
No. I don't feel "stupid". I feel "lack of knowing". (At least for me, that's not the same feeling.)
Learning a new programming language is hard.
Learning to code is hard.
Learning is hard.
I am learning how to code, and I am in school, and I feel like I have not learned anything, I feel like I do not know anything. I do not reliably think i can solve the easiest thing on leetcode and I graduate in December. i have been trying to use AI to learn by just building, and doing classes on Datacamp. We shall see
I think you're pretty much on the right track. I recently graduated too, and can somehow understand how this feels. About the LeetCode questions, you might want to check this out. Arguably the best platform (in my opinion) for learning/mastering DSA as well as a few other fields in CS/SWE. I'm thankful everyday that I stumbled upon it
Onyedika okonkwo, I'm Onwuka Kalu, what's up, we are from the same south East,I'm very happy seeing all these comments, sometimes I feel maybe there is an easy path there are still hiding from me, but now I have realized that the road is not and has not been an easy road for anyone.
tbh i’ve felt dumb so many times trying to code, but pushing through that stuff always made me better in the end - ever wonder if those tough moments are actually what make progress real, not just the easy wins
When I do LeetCode problems
This just happened to me this morning. I have been doing a 100 days of Python challenge to get familiar with the language, and today's task was similar in that it simply said "create x" without any details or specifics. I went back to the previous module and looked over the code there and it gave me the information I needed to proceed. Sometimes coding is as much about knowing where to look and what to look for as it is what you have stored in your memory.
I've been a professional developer for 7+ years and I still feel stupid sometimes. I still tend to compare myself to other developers and always forget that they have more experience. I can't realistically compare myself to someone who's been doing this for 15+ years. But I still do. Plus I never follow my own advice, hahaha. Telling other developers "don't worry you're doing great don't compare yourself to others" works really well, but I don't apply it to my own career.
Feeling stupid can sometimes be really annoying and talking about it really helps. At the same time, conquering it makes you feel like a winner because you managed to learn a new concept and that's impressive!
We're all in this together and as long as you have a willingness to learn and ask questions, you're doing a fantastic job!
10 PRINT "Do You Ever Feel Stupid While Learning To Code??"
20 PRINT "1. Yes"
30 PRINT "2. No"
40 INPUT "Choose (1 or 2): "; ANSWER
50 IF ANSWER = 1 THEN PRINT "Since the 80s... (we've all been there)."
60 IF ANSWER = 2 THEN PRINT "You haven't challenged yourself enough. Try Assembly!"
70 END
This is so real sometimes i feel super frustrated because i like understanding things on the first try you know... but i try to be nicer on myself because rome wasn't built in a day but sometimes its so humbing haha
Absolutely! Also practice makes perfect 😀
after over 25 years in this game, I still have moments almost every week that give me at least a brief moment of that feeling - whether it's the actual coding, managing all of the work, or all of the different levels of conversations with other engineers and leaders, there's a ton of complexity and ambiguity for our little human minds to keep track of
I think the big difference that comes with some experience is that because you've seen many common patterns you can more quickly recognize why you may be stuck, or if not you at least have the confidence that you'll figure it out (again)
Totally normal — that "feeling stupid" often comes from a mismatch between how coding is explained and how it actually feels when you're doing it. You're likely trying to layer metaphors over raw experience, which can confuse more than help. Best approach: slow down, stay with problems longer, and learn on your own terms. Over time, things that once felt impossible start to feel natural.
This hit me hard. I’m also a self-taught dev and I’ve felt exactly the same — sometimes I finish a course and feel totally lost when trying to build something on my own.
But just like you said: coding is a challenge, not a struggle. We grow through it. Thanks for sharing this!
You are very welcome, André! 🙂
It's incredible when you finish your project or something like that, and you begins to look at others codes... so organized, structured, neat, and you feels like "Oh, I should do this, maybe it would improve my code and let this simpler to read, to perform maintenance", and it seems like you're never done, cuz you're always learning others tools, skills, methods, improving your skills as well. But one thing Im assured, the first step is to get start.
I agree with you . I'm learning backend development ,when i complete a lesson and start doing the tasks like (subscription tracker ) i left speechless , i didn't know how to even start the code , but after a time i started getting used to it . its all about time guys but its true coding is hard especially if you are an academic student
Or a hobbyist coder 🙂 but absolutely!
If I feel stupid it usually means I just learned something! XD Stupid feelings are just a perception of one's own ignorance. And you are only ignorant once. Hopefully not a repeat offender, hahahahaha
Let me share some non-coding stupidity -
I recently started a new job as a technician. One job was to remove hard drives from a bunch of all-in-ones. In that same room, arguably in the same pile, were a bunch of monitors. One particular monitor, I mistook for an all-in-one. It had a myriad of ports on the back and was fairly heavy. I figured, "Oh, this must just be an older all-in-one." Boy was I wrong... Not only was it a massive pain to open, but I spent quite a long time trying to locate the hard drive. Good thing it was going to recycling anyways.
XD
To be honest - yes. It's always challenging to study something new. Especially when you need to find a free hour in your workflow.
But this is the reason we learn and develop - to achieve new heights!
Absolutely, and not just while learning.
I’ve been trying to land an entry-level job while studying, and after literally hundreds of rejections, that feeling of “maybe I’m just not good enough” creeps in hard.
But giving up isn’t an option. I remind myself this is the long game, so I keep pushing forward, hoping that all this effort will pay off.
Been in the game since the 90s. Made a whole ass proof-of-concept webserver in QBasic with assembly calls. I never slowed down, not even for a second.
I still feel dumb AF a few times a day. Pretty sure I live just to get rid of that feeling.
I don't think I've clicked on a link so fast! 😂
Coding was never my speciality, I think I enjoyed interpreting code and understanding developer tools and spaces. I'm always second guessing myself and thinking, "should I have just continued to learn??"
I did encounter this feeling when I was learning to program.......
Sometimes it's easy to feel like you can't keep up with complex concepts.
However, I've found that using some AI tools to help me learn has become much easier.
For example, using ChatGOT to generate code examples and comments is really a great idea and it helps me understand the logic behind the code better. 🤔
Learning to code is learning a language with strict structural, syntactical rules. Note the big difference a comma makes between
"Throw the yule log on, Uncle John!"
and
"Throw the yule log on Uncle John!"
Syntax rules make real differences. Learning a language requires regular practice.
I think the main thing I found out is how to think logically step by step in solving a problem... learning to code is learning each concept of syntax, there use and how they work. When to use the syntax and how to use it...Focus on learning how to breakdown your problems into small task, step by step..then use the programming language you learnt with its syntax understanding how they work..to solve those problems.
This is what I feel coding is all about..when I changed my perception towards this concept, I started learning better.
Impostor syndrome doesn't help either 👀
Absolutely. It is a stubborn one!
Man, felt this way so many times. Sticking with it anyway kinda makes me proud.
You have every reason to be proud of your perseverance 🙂
Absolutely — feeling stuck or "stupid" while learning to code is something every developer goes through. It's part of the process, not a reflection of your intelligence. Think of it like leveling up in a game — confusion and setbacks are just part of the quest.
Feeling stupid is an understatement, I wake up everyday feeling like I am not created for this, but I am not giving up. I hit my screen, study and practice and the joy and excitement I get from the little progress I make each day keeps me going
All the time.
Haha, I can feel that.
Learning to code can be challenging at times, but it offers many benefits.
Generally, once you learn one programming language, it becomes easier to pick up others.
If you mean stuck so that is stupid then yes sometimes, I think this is happens. I do believe that as programmers we are doing our best. By learning to solve complex problems we are using the full potential of our capability, so I do feel stupid SOMETIMES¡¡¡
You guys feel stupid only when learning? XD
for me its probably the times that i didn't write any thing for a rather long period of time, and just stare at screen when i made a new file for new project wondering who am i and what am i doing lol
found my people. I feel same way !
I totally become mad when I get stuck!I take a break and come back the other day and find a small light to go forward!(Some times it takes more than a day!)
I can totally get that feeling! This happens to me as well!
all the time
I feel stupid every day while I code hahaha.
We always feel
Dumb while learning . Thats an indicator of the learning process . Our brain is trying to understand the information and create pathways for the new information
CodeCombat done. 'Make a function' hit hard. Came back. Confusion's the first boss. Level up. 💻⚔️
All the time. Whenever I want to create a project. Create a function/class or...
Please know that you are not alone in this 🙂
After 1.5 year working as software developer and now unemploye for long time. I feel bad everday.
Honestly, I just try not to think about it. Otherwise yes, I definitely do.
You are in good company. Thank you for sharing 🙂
All the time lol!! I think its just the natural part of the process whenever learning anything new.
The more I learn code the more stupid I feel, it makes me think I know nothing or even less than I thought
I know that feeling too well. But there are times when I even get surprised that I managed to do that or make those things which I did. We can even surprise ourselves in a positive way as well sometimes. Surely, that must have happened with you as well.
The only time I don't feel a little stupid while coding is when the code actually runs on the first try. And let's be honest, that's rarer than finding a unicorn riding a unicycle.
Yes, often—but it's a sign you're pushing your limits and growing. Moving up the ladder
I feel stupid when I am doing something I've already did in the past but I don't remember how. I have to go back, search for my project with same problem and then understand it once again :D
This applies to all
Totally relate to that feeling of overwhelm!
Absolutely correct
Yes I do sometimes, but I need to keep going on matter what.
Absolutely and practice makes perfect! ✨
everyday
I had a one year gap in coding, never felt worse than when I was coming back to it
Especially dumb feeling when the solution turns out to be newbie simple but I was thinking too hard.
Totally relate! Glad I’m not the only one
Same!!!
It is normal to feel stupid sometimes, but we should accept coding as a challenge instead of a struggle. Agreed.
"It is much more beneficial to think of coding as a challenge as it changes your perception from coding is a struggle to coding is a challenge instead." - well said
Thank you ☺️
nice!
If you never feel a bit stupid, it might mean you're not challenging yourself enough—and that takes away the fun and the chance to grow. This applies to more than just coding.
Oh man, I totally get what you're saying. It's so true. When I'm learning programming, I often feel like a total idiot, it's pretty much the norm.
Always, haha. It's worse when I'm solving DSA problems
All the time :)
Oh 😅
hehehe Yeah! sometimes I feel stupid
Aw, yes. It certainly does! Sometimes it takes a little time for some things to stick.
Much welcome to DEV, Yash! I hope you will like it here as much as I do!
Programming is a difficult task because! because the program is not just words in the right order! this is not just an instruction, it's a combination of everything that would make you understand, now try to describe the behavior of the program in words without errors, without forgetting anything with all the discrepancies, and you will look stupid, maybe this is part of the truth
Yeah, sometimes i feel doing very stupid things while I was working on my application imgocr.com because it's on Laravel and I still do many of speggty code which later I changed to laravel own utility functions and eloquent model connections. Which saves a lot of time and lines of code minimized.
Totally normal — that "feeling stupid" often comes from a mismatch between how coding is explained and how it actually feels when you're doing it. You're likely trying to layer metaphors over raw experience, which can confuse more than help. Best approach: slow down, stay with problems longer, and learn on your own terms. Over time, things that once felt impossible start to feel natural.
Absolutely. I've been doing this part time since 1999. The worst I ever felt was when I was getting paid, but then a friend of mine reminded me that if they're paying you for it, they see something in you. Don't give in to the voice making you feel dumb. There's a reason we all get up every morning and beat on the keyboard. It's a labor of love.
I think programmers are often much more stupid than ordinary people, which means you will become a perfect programmer. haha
Does not compute 🤯
im always feeling like that... it reminds me that no one experience is singular heheh
Everyone.
Nice post!
OMG i will think about this every single day and night …
Yeah! every day@jialiang_cai_9eff69bf9807
Absolutely correct
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i feel stupid with regardless learning to code or not 🤣
Hahhaa, oh man! I am sure that is not true 🙂
no
since I'm a retard and can't ever ask for help everything I know has been self-taught and that makes you feel real stupid every move you make
It happens when I started to code DSA questions
Highly recommended !!
I feel stupid even when I’m not coding 🥹👍🏽
Fantastic App