Do you love coding? In the tech world, there’s a big difference between loving what you do and just doing it for the paycheck. If you’re considering becoming a developer just because it’s a “profitable career,” let me tell you something—you might be wasting your time.

The Reality of Software Development

Becoming a developer is not just about learning a few programming languages and landing a high-paying job. It’s about enjoying the process, the endless debugging, the late nights trying to figure out why your code isn’t working, and the excitement when it finally does.

It’s about spending hours solving a problem that represents just 1% (or less) of your total project—and feeling a strange sense of satisfaction in doing so.

If you don’t naturally enjoy breaking things and fixing them over and over again, this journey might not be for you.

The Ever-Changing Tech Industry

The industry is constantly evolving. What works today might be outdated tomorrow. If you’re only in it for the money, the shifting landscape will feel exhausting rather than exciting.

Finding a job as a developer is not as easy as it was before, and chasing trends (new frameworks, new languages) might slow you down rather than speed you up. You might restart your project 100 times, test different technologies, and feel like you’re “wasting time”—but are you having fun doing it?

Because that’s the real key to lasting in this industry.

Focus on the Journey, Not Just the Outcome

If you already enjoy the process, don’t stress about “wasting time” at the beginning. Experimenting with different tech stacks, rebuilding projects, and exploring new tools will naturally guide you toward what you love.

And when you reach that point—when you’re skilled, passionate, and experienced—the career will follow.

So, ask yourself:

Are you coding because you love it, or just because you heard it pays well? The answer makes all the difference.