Just Keep Coding

Source: Dev.to

Introduction

We all have those days where we go to fix a bug that we thought was an easy change, but end up spending a chunk of the day trying to solve it. If we don’t figure it out, it ruins our afternoon because it’s all we can think about. You start questioning your skills, replaying every step in your head, wondering how something so simple could take this long.

It’s that frustrating loop every developer knows. You try a different approach, read through the documentation, maybe even restart your editor, and yet nothing. Then the self‑doubt kicks in: “Am I even good at this? Shouldn’t I know this by now?”

But here’s the truth: it’s completely okay to feel dumb when you’re coding. Every single developer, from beginners to senior engineers, has those exact moments. Coding isn’t just about typing correct syntax; it’s about patience, problem‑solving, and sometimes knowing when to step back. Feeling lost or stuck just means you’re doing the hard part of learning.

You’re Always Learning (and Forgetting)

One thing I’ve accepted over the years is that you’re never done learning when it comes to coding. Between switching from React to Vue, or juggling Node projects in between, I constantly have to refresh myself on how each framework structures things. I’ll open an older project thinking I remember exactly how the components were wired up, only to realise I’ve forgotten half the syntax.

At first, that used to frustrate me. I’d wonder how I could forget something I’d used a hundred times before. Over time, I realised that it’s not about remembering everything; it’s about knowing where to look when you get stuck. Whether that’s MDN, Stack Overflow, or your own repo from six months ago, being able to find the right answer quickly is far more valuable than trying to memorise every method or lifecycle hook.

That’s the real skill behind good developers: not perfect recall, but adaptability. When you can calmly say, “I don’t remember this, but I know how to figure it out,” you’ve already won half the battle.

Story Time: When I Felt Dumb

My most recent experience of feeling dumb happened just a few days ago. I was working on my video converter application, and I’ve dealt with streaming files across Node.js applications plenty of times. I even use stream logging all the time to track app processes and catch random bugs. So this should’ve been familiar territory, right?

The first issue started with a file check I wrote. I wanted to make sure all file chunks were available before streaming them into the final file. I set up a back‑off function that would wait up to 15 seconds, checking with fs to see whether each file existed before continuing. Everything seemed fine, files were clearing properly, but during test runs I noticed some output files were corrupted. I spent a few hours rewriting the function, debugging, stepping through lines, over and over. The files existed, so what was wrong?

Then it hit me. Yes, the files existed, but I never checked their size. My function was happy to pass files that were technically there but completely empty. Hours of chasing what turned out to be a zero‑byte issue.

The second problem made me feel just as silly. Once my file check was complete, I started streaming the chunks into a single file. It worked fine for smaller test files, but once I moved to larger ones, I started seeing dropped data. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to remember that I wasn’t handling backpressure from the buffer, meaning the stream was getting overwhelmed and discarding some data mid‑way. When I finally spotted it, I laughed, grabbed a coffee, and stepped away for a bit before fixing it.

Honestly, that short break helped more than anything. It reminded me that being “dumb” isn’t really the issue; being human is. Sometimes you can know exactly what you’re doing and still miss the simplest detail.

Step Back to Move Forward

That debugging session was a solid reminder that sometimes the best way to fix your code is to walk away from it. Taking that coffee break wasn’t me giving up; it was me letting my brain cool off long enough to see the problem for what it really was. When you’re staring at the same few lines for hours, you stop reading the code and start seeing what you expect instead. That’s when it’s time to step back.

I’ve learned that distance can be one of the best debugging tools. Whether that means going for a walk, switching tasks, or even explaining your code to someone else, that simple shift in perspective can uncover what hours of staring couldn’t. I’ve had times where I spent an entire afternoon lost in code, only for a friend or coworker to glance over and immediately spot the issue I missed. It’s humbling, but also reassuring. Sometimes you just need another pair of eyes to break that tunnel vision.

It’s not just about taking breaks in the moment; looking back at your old code can show you how far you’ve actually come. You’ll spot areas you’d now do differently, logic that could be cleaner, or patterns you didn’t even know existed at the time. It’s easy to forget your own progress when you’re deep in day‑to‑day problem solving, but seeing how much your style and understanding have evolved can be a great reminder that growth often happens quietly.

The truth is, it’s okay to need that kind of reset. Coding isn’t meant to be a never‑ending grind of perfect focus. Every mistake, delay, or confused moment you have is also your brain learning how to handle problems better next time. A short break, a new perspective, or even a quick scroll through your old code can save you from burning out over something you’ll probably laugh about tomorrow.

You Won’t Be Good at Everything

Another thing that took me a long time to accept is that you’re not going to be good at everything, and that’s completely fine. The tech world is huge. Even if you stay inside your favourite ecosystem, there’s a never‑ending list of tools, frameworks, and libraries. You might spend months getting confident with React only to switch to Vue and feel like you’re starting from zero again.

Trying to master everything is impossible, and honestly, it’s not even necessary. The more you work on stuff, the more you realise that being a good developer isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about knowing your strengths, being curious, and staying adaptable. You start to specialise naturally in certain topics, tools, or technologies that fit the way you think. That’s how you build depth—not by chasing every new thing, but by growing where your curiosity pulls you.

The comparison trap is easy to fall into. We scroll through social media or see someone building something clever and start wondering if we’re behind. You’re not. Everyone’s brain works differently, and everyone’s path through tech looks different. What matters is that you keep learning, keep experimenting, and give yourself permission to not know everything right away.

Conclusion

Feeling dumb when you code doesn’t mean you’re a bad developer; it means you’re a real one. Every bug you chase, every “how did I miss that?” moment, every hour spent rereading documentation just to remember how something works—that’s all part of the process. Those moments shape how you think, debug, and approach problems in the future.

When you look back at your old code, you start to realise how far you’ve actually come. The parts that once confused you now make sense. The messy logic that once felt “good enough” now sparks better ideas. That reflection isn’t about cringing; it’s about celebrating growth. You’ve improved quietly through every frustrating session and late‑night “aha!” moment.

So when you catch yourself in that spiral of frustration, remember: it’s normal, it’s human, and it’s a sign you’re learning. Take a break, ask for help, or simply step away for a moment. You’ll return with fresh eyes, a clearer mind, and another piece of the puzzle solved.