I want to start by stating the obvious: all myths are ultimately a waste of time (myths, not mythology). There are moments when things align perfectly, especially when a concept emerges from contemplating a myth and turns out to be effective. Most of the time, myths create noise but don’t make things easier or more useful, which is why they end up wasting time.
For everyone making their way in the programming space, or for those who are already there, know that you will stumble upon advice wherever you look. Some of it is useful, some of it isn’t, and some will slow you down.
Over time, I realised that a lot of things that worried me through my programming career don’t actually matter. I sometimes spent hours learning tools that someone convinced me are the next big thing, but I ended up never using them. I spent a lot of time fixing problems that weren’t really problems, but it gave me the illusion that I was moving forward and learning.
A developer survey from 2024 shows that 69% of developers lose at least 8 hours per week, about 20% of their time, to inefficiencies like technical debt, poor documentation, and build-process slowdowns. All of those experiences made me understand that following every piece of advice out there will probably make you waste your time without making you a better developer.
This post looks at five programming myths that come up again and again. If you let them go, you can focus on the work that actually counts.
Myth #1: You Must Learn Every Framework To Stay Relevant
There is always a new framework, tool, library, or programming language that is the talk of the town, or rather, the talk of the programming community. They all promise to be the next best thing since sliced bread, solving every coding issue out there and making your work more efficient and impactful. If you don’t jump on that train right away, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind.
The truth is, most of the time you don’t need to learn that new fancy tool or framework you just heard about. Companies often stick with older technology because it works. Systems built on Java, PHP, or .NET keep running for years without being replaced by the latest release, because what matters is that the code is stable, useful, and supports a large number of users/visitors.
Learning new and popular tools may seem like expanding your knowledge, but if you never get down to using them and it took you months to learn, it can be considered a waste of time.
In retrospect, it would have been a better use of my time if I got deeper into fundamentals like problem-solving or design patterns. Those are the skills I use in every project, no matter the framework.
Key Takeaways:
Learning something new is only worth it if it solves a real problem you face. If your team is using React, then learning React makes sense. Trying to keep up with everything only leaves you exhausted and burnt out.
Myth #2: There Is Only One True Way To Write The Code
In my early programming years, I believed there was just one “right” way to write code and only one accurate way to solve a problem. I spent a lot of time trying to mimic what I saw in tutorials or what a senior had done before, thinking it was the only way.
But the thing with programming is that there are many different ways to correctly solve the same problem. Now that I know this, in my work I try to make decisions based on context, not on what someone else said is the only way.
Key Takeaways:
Programming is full of choices, and while one approach might be faster, another easier to implement and maintain, none of them is ultimately right or wrong. Once you understand this, you can focus on making your code functional instead of trying to live up to an imagined standard of problem-solving.
Myth #3: I Have To Figure Out Everything By Myself
When I first started, I believed that a “real programmer” should be able to solve every problem independently. I didn’t ask questions, look for answers online, or look at what other people had done, because I wanted to show that I could accomplish everything on my own.
It didn’t work. I spent hours stuck on issues that could have been solved in minutes if I had asked or looked up a solution.
Over time, I realized that using resources isn’t cheating, and it doesn’t mean I am less of a programmer. It means I am being practical, as a developer should be. Forums, AI tools, fellow programmers are all there to save time and prevent frustration, so you can keep on doing the work that really matters.
Key Takeaways:
The real skill isn’t knowing everything. It’s knowing where to find answers, how to evaluate them, and how to implement them. Once I accepted that, my work got faster and less stressful, and I actually learned more along the way.
Myth #4: AI Will Replace Programmers
This one is the talk of the town lately. People worry that more and more tasks will be automated, which will reduce the need for developers to work. What once took us hours, AI now generates in minutes, so it’s no surprise people are worried, and not just in the programming realm.
The reality is different, though. AI can help with repetitive tasks, generate code snippets, or suggest solutions. It speeds up work, but it doesn’t replace the thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving that developers do every day.
Key Takeaways:
After a bit of a rough patch with understanding the potential of large language models, I began to see AI as a helpful tool instead of a threat. It saved me time and helped me focus on the areas of programming that really need human judgement. Learning how to use these tools is becoming part of the craft, not something that replaces it.
Myth #5: Senior Developers Know Everything
In the past, I assumed senior developers had all the answers. I thought the difference between me and them was simply the amount of expertise and knowledge, and that one day, if I stuck with it long enough, I’d “arrive” at that (imagined) point of knowing it all.
The reality couldn’t be further from that. Senior developers don’t know everything; they’ve just developed the ability to ask the right questions, troubleshoot efficiently, and stay calm when they don’t have the answer or when the deadline is approaching.
They rely on documentation, colleagues, and trial and error just like everyone else. What sets them apart is experience, not omniscience. Once I understood this, I felt a huge weight lift, as it meant I didn’t have to wait until I “knew everything” to contribute or to call myself a programmer.
Key Takeaways:
Progress comes from building, breaking things, and learning. There is no finish line that, when you reach it, means you have got all the knowledge.
And with that realization, all the myths I’d carried with me began to fall apart.
The Bigger Picture
Looking back, every one of these myths had one thing in common: they made me hesitate. They made me believe programming was about perfection, instant mastery, or some unreachable level of expertise.
But the truth is much simpler. Programming is about learning a little more each day and being okay with not having all the answers right away.
Once I let go of the myths, I started to actually enjoy the process. I wasn’t chasing an impossible version of myself anymore; I was just building, experimenting, and getting better step by step.
So if you’ve been carrying these beliefs too, consider this your permission to drop them. You don’t need perfect code, superhuman focus, or vast knowledge to be a “real” programmer. You just need curiosity, patience, and the willingness to keep going. Debunking these myths reminds us that web development is about continuous learning, problem-solving, and collaboration. The reality is that every developer, no matter their experience, grows by asking questions, experimenting, and working with others. By letting go of these misconceptions, we make space for a healthier, more sustainable approach to web development: one that values curiosity, adaptability, and teamwork.
