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Things That Scare the Bejeezus Out of Programmers

Posted by Soulskill on from the it's-just-a-matter-of-code dept.

itwbennett writes "Software developers are, by and large, a cool and analytical bunch, but there are a handful of things that strike terror in their hearts. Phil Johnson scoured developer forums looking for an answer to the question: What's your biggest fear as a programmer? The answers clustered into 5 broad groups ranging from being forced to learn or use a specific technology to working for and with incompetents. What's your biggest fear?"

19 of 641 comments (clear)

  1. getting raped at your work seat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    getting raped at your work seat

    1. Re:getting raped at your work seat by ciderbrew · · Score: 5, Funny

      Still working at EA?

    2. Re:getting raped at your work seat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hmmm...I work with some very lovely ladies so I'll have to disagree on this one.

    3. Re:getting raped at your work seat by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 5, Funny

      Debasement in the basement?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    4. Re:getting raped at your work seat by Dareth · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ba Zynga?!

      --

      I only look human.
      My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
  2. Ghosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    also, Spiders and Bees

  3. Stupid people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're impossible to code for, or cope with.

    "Enter date"
    >cat
    "This value is invalid"

    "Hey your software is broken! It doesn't stop me typing "cat" in a date field!"
    What did it say?
    "value is invalid"
    There you go then!
    "But it didn't stop me typing it!"
    Because it assumes you are not a moron? You're right, it is "broken"...

    1. Re:Stupid people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      They're impossible to code for, or cope with.

      "Enter date"
      >cat
      "This value is invalid"

      Tomcat here. What's wrong with having a date with a cat?

  4. stab people in the face by Barryke · · Score: 1, Funny

    "But it didn't stop me typing it!"

    This really brought up memories.. (source http://bash.org/?4281 )
    <Zybl0re> get up
    <Zybl0re> get on up
    <Zybl0re> get up
    <Zybl0re> get on up
    <phxl|paper> and DANCE
    * nmp3bot dances :D-<
    * nmp3bot dances :D|-<
    * nmp3bot dances :D/-<
    <[SA]HatfulOfHollow> im going to become rich and famous after i invent a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet

    --
    Hivemind harvest in progress..
  5. Things that scare developers, by mjwx · · Score: 5, Funny

    Snakes,
    Loud noises,
    Social contact,
    Drinks machine being out of soft drinks and/or chocolate,
    Google being down,

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  6. Velociraptors by Arancaytar · · Score: 5, Funny

    (obviously)

  7. Re:I fear... by Xest · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is that still around? I thought when the recession hit most companies realised that one of the first things you should cut is pointless money and time wasting bureaucratic process and just hire people who know what they're on about and have real actual common sense whilst firing those that don't.

    Please don't tell me now that the global economy looks like it might be improving again soon that it's going to make a comeback?

  8. Re:Bad multithreading by jimshatt · · Score: 4, Funny

    3..2..1... Phew! I might otherwise have replied even before you commented. That worked out well!

  9. Re:Biggest Fear? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Funny

    Velociraptors - That's why I never use a "GOTO" ...

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  10. Grues. by will_die · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nothing more fearful then the worry of having grues attack you as you go into a dark server room.

  11. Forgetting the 'where' clause by fiddyschmitt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Running an SQL update statement without a where clause and seeing '47,982 rows updated'.......bonechilling

  12. Re:Relevance to programmers? by Nerdfest · · Score: 4, Funny

    The "specific technology" one is a big one though. As someone who has been forced to use a lot of IBM "technology", I'm of the opinion that there is nothing to fear but WebSphere itself.

  13. Re:Doesn't anyone remember FDR? by g0bshiTe · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why'd you bring mythological creatures into this discussion next you'll be talking about unicorns and pumas.

    --
    I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
  14. Re:Doesn't anyone remember FDR? by greg_barton · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm Afraid of People who Unnecessarily Capitalize.