Embracing Discomfort: Lessons in Programming and Growth

Primegen regrets avoiding uncomfortable technologies, realizing that embracing challenges fosters growth and better problem-solving skills.

### Embracing Discomfort: Lessons from Two Decades of Programming
* 💻 After nearly two decades of professional programming experience in various languages, I reflect on a **critical mindset** I wish I could have changed **earlier in my career**.
* 📚 During my college years from 2007 to 2009, I was excited about programming but stuck to familiar tools like **Windows and NetBeans**, avoiding the challenges presented by **Linux and command-line interfaces**.
* 🖥 In 2008, I attempted to learn Ubuntu but quickly retreated due to my belief that **anything difficult or different was inherently wrong**, limiting my growth as a developer.
* 🤔 This mentality extended beyond technology; I often assumed I was right in various aspects of my life, which fostered a **false sense of confidence** that hindered my learning.
* 🚀 A pivotal moment came during an interview when I struggled to solve a problem that could have been **easily addressed with a simple command**, highlighting my **lack of experience with the command line**.
* 💡 I realized that **embracing discomfort and exploring unfamiliar tools** could lead to long-term benefits, improving my **problem-solving abilities and overall engineering skills**.
* 🌱 I encourage others to step out of their **comfort zones**, try **new technologies**, and **expand their horizons** to become better engineers, as **diverse experiences** are what truly differentiate junior developers from seniors.
* ✍ "Ultimately, the more ways you see a problem be solved, the more ways you can solve a problem," and I hope my story inspires others to **embrace learning and growth**.

If I could give advice to myself when starting as a software engineer

ThePrimeagen

Early programming experiences and a key regret

Two decades of programming experience across various languages.

College experience in 2007-2009, using Windows and NetBeans.

Using CentOS for labs and Windows with NetBeans at home.

Attempt to learn Linux in 2008, but quickly abandoning it.

Mentality of avoiding challenging tools (CLI, Vim) due to perceived inconvenience.

The negative consequences of avoiding challenges

This avoidance extended beyond technology to interpersonal interactions.

Overconfidence hindering growth and learning.

Regret over not embracing discomfort and alternative tools.

Negative interview experience due to lack of CLI knowledge.

The importance of embracing challenges and diverse tools

Encouragement to try different tools and technologies (Emacs, IntelliJ, Solid, Vue).

Expanding horizons to broaden problem-solving approaches.

The value of diverse experiences in differentiating junior and senior engineers.