Day of The Programmer: 5 Cool Facts About Programmers
Computers, technology, and software dominate the modern world — but behind every creative piece of software, there is a programmer (and frequently teams of programmers) tackling problems with clever code, cloud security solutions, and intense development projects. If you are lucky enough to have a programmer in your life, don’t hug them, as they are most likely an introvert. Get them their favorite coffee drink. Spare a thought for these digital pioneers on Programmers’ Day today!
The Programmer’s day is celebrated on the 0x100, 2⁸, or 256th day of the year — September 13 on a regular year and September 12 on a leap one. The number 256 refers to the 8-bit byte — a very important unit to the programmers. It represents the maximum number of distinct values in one byte, including zero. 256 is also the highest power of 2, which is less than the overall days in the year.
To celebrate The Programmers’ Day, we have compiled 5 cool facts about programmers that you should know:
Stay Up Late to Meet Deadline
Professional programmers should be able to finish projects on time. However, clients can ask them to finish before the deadline. With such short deadlines, programmers are bound to stay up late. They sometimes set aside personal matters to execute projects according to the client’s requests. So, don’t be shocked if you come into a programmer who looks tired from the morning. Who knows, maybe he/she has been staying up late working?
Committed to Work Under Pressure
Work to meet deadlines is the daily life of a programmer. Therefore, they are not afraid of the work challenges. They will work day and night to complete their tasks under all circumstances. With this attitude, programmers are more likely to survive the dynamic changes in technologies.
Is at Risk of Facial Paralysis
Different from stroke, facial paralysis, often known as Bell’s Palsy in the medical world can cause temporary facial paralysis. Facial paralysis is frightening and presents as a danger to programmers. The source of this disease is uncertain, but some speculate that it is caused by someone’s coding habits. When you get overly focused on coding, your nerves become stiff and vulnerable to Bell’s Palsy.
Sleeping with A Problem
Sleeping with a problem can actually solve it. If a programmer encounters a problem that cannot be solved after a long time of effort, they will take a break and go to bed. What happened when they finally wake up? Their problem is resolved because a coder is someone who never gives up and thinks about their problem even when they are in dormant mode. They try to fight till their problem gets solved.
Best Done “In The Zone”
“Programming is best done “in the zone” — a (pleasant) frame of mind in which your attention is completely focused on the work at hand and everything appears to be simple. This is similar to “the zone” for artists and athletes. Have you ever wondered why programmers are considered night birds? Why do they stay awake all night? Because it allows us to enter the area that we can concentrate on one thing without fear of being broken by someone — because they are all asleep.
After reading 5 cool facts about programmers, do you see one or more in you? Once again, Happy Programmers’ Day to all who celebrate it!
Written by Rania Salsabila
References:
Muhardian Ahmad. 2021. Apa itu Hari Programmer Internasional? [online]. Tersedia dalam https://www.petanikode.com/hari-programmer/ (Diakses pada 11 September 2021)
Nasihatkon, Samaneh. 2020. Happy Programmers Day. [online]. Tersedia dalam https://blog.anynines.com/happy-programmers-day/ (Diakses pada 11 September 2021)
