Most software developers will recognize the scenario that John Macpherson, lead developer at Scottish web design company Media Surgery, describes as one of the true highs of his job: that feeling “when you test the part you have been working on for days or hours—and it works! You feel like you are an unstoppable superpower that can do anything. A real feeling of euphoria.” They’ll also recognize the flipside: “When you have been working for days and hours and it doesn’t work. You feel worthless and question why you are even employed at all. You feel a fraud. Either euphoria or imposter syndrome. It’s a strange old job, but enjoyable—for the most part.”
