“Am I too old to be a software developer?”
I hear this question often, and it misses the point entirely. The real barriers aren’t age - they’re mindset and adaptability. A friend of mine who’s been coding longer than most developers have been alive put it perfectly: “At 61, I’m a software engineer, not a manager. I have to effuse and enthuse while writing great code.” He meant that to counter assumptions about older developers, he needed to actively demonstrate his enthusiasm for technology while consistently delivering solid work.
The tech industry does have age biases. But you don’t age out of technology - you age when you stop engaging with it. I’ve watched talented developers hold themselves back with rigid thinking and resistance to change. Meanwhile, others thrive by staying curious and open to new ideas.
Experience becomes truly valuable when you help others grow. The most effective senior engineers I know are force multipliers. They mentor junior developers, share knowledge freely, and make their whole team better. They’ve learned that technical skills matter, but the ability to communicate and empathize with their colleagues matters more.
Beyond stereotypes, there’s something deeper: the pattern recognition that comes from decades of hands-on work. You’ve seen technologies come and go. You can spot which problems are truly new and which are old challenges in new packaging. The value of that perspective is immeasurable.
The key is staying flexible without chasing every trend. You don’t need to master every new framework, but you should understand why they’re gaining traction. Keep building things. Keep questioning assumptions, especially your own. Your experience is only an asset if you continue adding to it.
Age is just a number. Your real value comes from what you’ve learned, what you can teach others, and your willingness to keep learning yourself.