Pervasive myths about older software developers

I think that in software development, a lot of the time, 'thinking more slowly' with age is actually thinking more carefully. You have more experience, therefore you have a larger knowledge base; so of course it takes longer to query. It also means that you get better answers, rather than the first answer that pops into your head. At 26, for me to get the same type of results, I imagine that I might have to do some research.

Do you have any examples of what you do to stay mentally active? It also seems important to keep physically active (from my experience with older guys, the ones who are thinking best are typically in the best physical condition).

Older workers aren't relevant because the younger generation won't listen to them.

The younger generation won't listen to older workers because older workers aren't relevant.

I work with two older guys and its great. They've got all of the domain knowledge and I can just bounce ideas off of them. They can tell me 'we don't really need that', 'that won't work because xyz' or 'we already tried that and it didn't work because xyz'. It has saved me a ton of pain multiple times.

The big deal is the domain knowledge however. Most companies just aren't willing to pay enough to keep domain expert software engineers around.

Start by asking yourself this question:

Why do you think that time seems to speed up as we get older?

Now stop, and really think about that question. Don't skip ahead. Think of some possible reasons. It's a phenomenon that we all experience. What's the cause?

When we are preschool age, time seems to last forever. As we get older, the years start rolling by more quickly and I've been told by more than one person in their 70's that it never slows down, it only speeds up.

Why?

The answer is actually that we've 'been there, done that'.

When we are young, EVERYTHING is new. When we are experiencing something new, time seems to slow down, especially because we are enjoying it and taking in so much.

As we get older, our brains start to filter out what we have seen before. You know that feeling when you drive home and don't remember driving home or anything along the way? Boom. There you go. Your brain just ignored the trip.

Have you ever gone on a three day trip to some new place and felt like your were gone for two months? It's only three days, right?

Well, what you effectively do when you experience new things, you slow things down again. Your mind stays active, and here's the kicker...your brain actually figures out better, more efficient ways to move information around the synapses in your grey matter. No, that's not 'mumbo jumbo'. The reverse is also true, which is why once someone experiences depression, they are always susceptible to it. The brain learns the path to certain behavior.

This is why confidence mantras work. Want to make your mind more powerful every year from here on?

Try new things.

'5 Pervasive myths' indeed - the article actually supports all five, and all five are in fact true.

  - old guy

From experience working at a corporation, about 80% of the younger programmers I have met are great but only about 30% of the older ones I have met are of the same skill level or dedication.

The reason for this is probably varied, but there are reasons certain stereotypes exists. It might be politically correct to say otherwise.

I don't think out of school, I became a much better programmer in my years of work, however I acquired a lot of professional skills in communication and leadership. (and a large increase in salary) People should be aware that's what they are paying for in a older programmer and not better programming.