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You’re a Real JavaScript Developer Only If...

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TL;DR

You're a real JavaScript developer when common struggles like debugging with console.log, fighting CORS, and refactoring code become routine. This article lists humorous scenarios that define the JavaScript dev experience, from framework migrations to production mishaps.

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Some people say you become a real developer when you build your first app.
JavaScript developers know that’s not true.
You become a real JavaScript developer when the hard moments become your comfort zone.

So, you’re a real JavaScript developer only if...

JavaScript Developer

🧩 The Classic Moments

  • You’ve used console.log() as your main debugging tool, and it worked.
  • You’ve seen undefined and said, “Yeah, that’s expected.”
  • You’ve added === instead of == without fully knowing why, but it fixed everything.
  • You’ve written code that worked yesterday but doesn’t work today, without touching it.
  • You’ve used map, filter, and reduce, all in the same line, just to feel powerful.
  • You’ve spent 15 minutes wondering why something isn’t working, only to find a missing }.
  • You’ve installed a package just to use one line of code.
  • You’ve said “just one more npm install” and broken your entire project.
  • You’ve fought with CORS and lost.
  • You’ve googled “How to center a div”, and you’ll do it again.

⚙️ The Framework Era

  • You said, “I’ll learn React this weekend”, 6 months ago.
  • You’ve started a project with Create React App, then migrated to Next.js “just to test.”
  • You’ve built a simple landing page but ended up configuring Webpack.
  • You’ve updated your npm packages and suddenly have 42 vulnerabilities.
  • You’ve used ChatGPT to explain why your component won’t render.
  • You’ve copied an error message, pasted it in Google, and found an unanswered StackOverflow question from 2014.

🧠 The Developer Energy

  • You know the difference between null, undefined, and “Why does this exist?”
  • You tell yourself, “I’ll just refactor this function”, and end up rewriting the whole app.
  • You say “it’s just JavaScript” before breaking production.
  • You’ve named a variable data, res, or temp more than once.
  • You’ve pushed console.log('test') to production.

If you’ve done at least five of these…
Congratulations 🥳, you’re officially a JavaScript developer.

💬 What’s the most “JavaScript dev” thing you’ve ever done? 😅

🎁 Bonus Resource: Check out my article, From Zero to 373 Days: How Daily LeetCode Challenges Transformed My Programming Journey 🔥

Thanks for reading! 🙏🏻
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Made with 💙 by Hadil Ben Abdallah 		LinkedIn GitHub Daily.dev

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