The Truth About Programming

Joma Tech| 00:05:01|Mar 26, 2026
Chapters9
Highlights that programming is often frustrating and demoralizing, with many failures that aren’t talked about publicly.

Coding is hard and failure is part of the journey, but perseverance fuels real impact—like IBM’s Call for Code turning setbacks into solutions.

Summary

Joma Tech lays bare the brutal realities of programming: early motivation meets frequent roadblocks, with projects often failing and startups collapsing. The creator emphasizes that the glamorous success stories overlook the countless failures that precede them. The message is clear: you will doubt yourself, feel delayed, and hear doubters say you’re not cut out for CS. Yet he argues that stubborn persistence and a willingness to push technology to its limits define true innovators. He then shifts to a hopeful tangent, introducing IBM’s Call for Code global initiative as a platform for turning skill and grit into societal impact. The 2019 competition invites developers to build solutions addressing natural disasters—covering areas like medical records access, supply distribution, and mental health support. Examples include using blockchain for secure aid networks, AI/NLP bots for real-time communication, and data science to predict needs before they’re asked. The prize is substantial—$200,000—with further open-source support via the Linux Foundation and deployment through IBM’s Code and Response program, exemplified by last year’s Owl project in Puerto Rico. Overall, the video champions resilience and purpose, urging developers to pursue meaningful, scalable impact through coding.

Key Takeaways

  • Many programmers face ongoing frustration and doubt, but persistence distinguishes those who succeed from those who quit.
  • IBM's Call for Code 2019 global challenge offers a $200,000 prize to build tech solutions for natural disasters.
  • Projects can leverage blockchain for secure supply networks, AI/NLP bots for real-time communication, and data science to predict needs.
  • Winning initiatives receive open-source backing from the Linux Foundation and potential implementation through IBM Code and Response.
  • Last year’s Owl project demonstrates real-world deployment in Puerto Rico as part of the Code and Response effort.
  • The overarching message is to turn personal setbacks into societal innovation, not just personal achievement.
  • The video frames programming as a discipline where failure is common but must be leveraged toward meaningful impact.

Who Is This For?

Essential viewing for developers who want to translate grit into impact. It’s especially relevant for those considering or participating in Call for Code or similar globally impactful tech challenges.

Notable Quotes

"Programming is hard and you will fail at one point. You will doubt yourself."
Sets the brutal reality of the coding journey.
"Some of you are not born to be programmers. You might be just wasting your time."
Challenges the reader but is balanced with encouragement to persevere.
"When people tell you you're crazy, it's a compliment to you."
Reframes doubt as a motivator for innovators.
"There are hundreds of natural disasters every year... and we desperately need you."
Motivates participation in Call for Code by showing real-world impact.

Questions This Video Answers

  • How can I get started with IBM Call for Code 2019 or similar humanitarian tech challenges?
  • What real-world projects won Call for Code and how were they deployed?
  • Which technologies are most effective for disaster-response solutions (blockchain, AI, NLP, data science)?
Joma TechCall for CodeIBM Code and ResponseLinux FoundationBlockchainAINLPData ScienceNatural DisastersSoftware Engineering Mindset
Full Transcript
If you've actually done any kind of programming you wouldn't know that programming is Frustrating it's confusing and sometimes it's even demoralizing You remember when you just started you were so motivated. So passionate about the things you can do with it All you see are people building their empires with it and affecting billions of lives with their lines of code But no one ever told you about their failures the untold stories of people who have fallen and the hardships that brought to them The reality is when we start programming and building things break things get stuck Projects get scraped or even worse businesses die and jobs are lost startups fail and time is wasted Failure after failure are happening every day But all you see are the successes that coding brought to these different people but no one talks about the path to get there Programming is hard and you will fail at one point You will doubt yourself. You'll say you're not smart enough that you're not lucky enough or that you're not gifted enough Worse other people will tell you that you're not meant for computer science. You're not meant to be an entrepreneur You're not smart enough to be a programmer You know what? I'll tell you that I think that some of you are not born to be programmers You might be just wasting your time You want to ignore my advice and close this video? Good Ignore my advice if that's you then it means you're bit stubborn But you don't give up and you care It means you fail all the time, but you pick yourself back up and you become stronger It means you're dumb enough to try to do something impossible but then You make it loose you push technology to its limit and you're at the forefront of innovation and you push even further And when people tell you that you can't do it You go ahead and you do it when people tell you you're wasting your time You go back and you work twice as hard and you come back and prove them wrong when people tell you you're crazy It's a compliment to you If that sounds like you then you are a true innovator and we need more people like you because we need more people To face the impossible and conquer it I don't care if you're just trying to pass a CS course or that you're building a rocket ship startup What matter is that? You are not stopping until you reach your goal as a society We have many many problems But we tackle them heads on and we keep innovating to make our lives better on planet earth one of the problems I care a lot about is natural disasters I'm partnered with IBM today to talk about a global initiative Called call for code which calls for developers to build something impactful and have a positive Change across the world through their code as you know There are hundreds of natural disasters every year like hurricanes earthquakes floods volcanoes and wildfires those affect numerous lives and causes tremendous damage to Families across the globe if you strive for real impact, we desperately need you. This is why the 2019 call for code global challenge is a competition to ask people like you to build solutions That help the health and well-being of these victims of natural disasters There are so many aspects of that We're talking about accessing medical records providing food and water safely controlling infectious diseases building supply distribution networks and even getting access to mental health during natural disasters We need all kinds of technologies here are a few examples of potential projects you like working on blockchains Build secure supply networks to distribute aid to the people in need you like AI and NLP Built BOTS to help real-time communication you're into data science Analyze and predict what the affected populations need before they even ask for it Every one of your project will matter and it will be for an extremely good cause now of course this is still a competition so they have a grand prize of $200,000 not only that the project with the greatest potential impact will be Implemented through the IBM code and response initiative and receive open source support through the Linux Foundation Last year's winning team project owl has already begun to deploy their solution in Puerto Rico as part of the code in response So are you up for the challenge? Do the impossible? Be an innovator join the coffer code

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