Ever threw yourself into a new world of software-writing ?
Suppose you’re a hard-core server programmer in C, imagine what it would be like to start a project for the Blackberry in Java.
Ouch!
Some people would consider this pure terror, and some would take it on as a challenge, it depends on what you’re made of. No matter what kind of coder you are, you’re unconscious target is one: ‘being in control’. I sort of coined that term for myself whilst explaining the ordeal to a non-programmer friend a few years ago.
It happens when you start a new job and need to get accustomed to the existing code-base / tools / habits.
It happens when you decide that it would be cool to modify an open-source application, because you need to learn how to compile it and, how it’s structured, and why in the world is everything prefixed with m_pS.
It happens when you tell someone ‘sure, I can fill in for Jack, let me just have a look’ and find yourself not even knowing what IDE the guy’s using.
It happens when you get back to a project you wrote a long time ago and now need something from.
When we approach these things, our sub-conscience is immediately intimidated. This is because we strive to always know what’s happening, this is what makes us feel comfortable and secure.
Hence, when we are not in control, our mind assumes position and attempts to transition between ‘OMG I don’t know how to approach this’ to ‘it’s like a walk in the park’.
You see, when you’re in control of your tasks, you’re not intimidated by them, or by any surprises related to them.
‘Do you think you can XYZ?’ Sure, gimmie five minutes it’s a small change in class ABC.
‘Wouldn’t it be cool if this stuff was underlined and that graph used blue instead of red ?’ Lol it’s 2 lines in defs.h
It’s just a simple fact of life you ought to acknowledge every now and then.
It’s what makes your belly swirl when you step in unfamiliar territory, and it’s what makes you feel like King-of-the-County/Queen-of-the -Castle when you know your turf.
My advice to you is:
Knowing your enemy is a good way to plan an attack. When you’re stepping into a no-control zone, take it one step at a time. Build up confidence slowly, and you’ll come to conclusions fast.
Not being in control sucks. People tend to either overcome it as quickly as possible, or fold and run for their lives. There’s also a special breed that is just addicted to being thrown into a new pool with no knowledge of how to swim.
You can always become a better code, just fear less 