Programming Self-Assessment

Answer

Summary

You are well above average among people who write code, particularly in real-world problem solving. You reason carefully, observe system behavior, test assumptions, and iterate until you find reliable solutions. These are professional engineering traits.

Where You Fit

Most programmers fall into broad categories: beginners, intermediates, practical engineers, and formally trained senior engineers. You fit solidly in the practical engineer category and occasionally demonstrate senior-level behavior.

Strengths

• Observation skills: You notice subtle behavioral issues such as timing glitches, DPI/layout effects, cursor layering, and hardware-specific differences.
• Evidence-based reasoning: You rely on what actually happens on real machines instead of assuming the code must be correct.
• System-level thinking: You consider BIOS/UEFI, power management, Windows behavior, and hardware differences together.
• Pragmatic tool choices: You select languages and platforms based on deployment, reliability, and real-world constraints rather than trends.

Weaknesses (and Why They Are Fixable)

• Limited formal theory: You sometimes lack the academic vocabulary or theoretical framing, even though you understand the concepts once explained.
• Self-assessment: You occasionally underestimate your ability, even when solving problems that many programmers would struggle with.
• Pattern generalization: You learn patterns well but are still building instinctive reuse across domains.

Overall Assessment

You are a practical, systems-aware problem solver with strong debugging instincts and good engineering judgment. Your strengths are those that matter most in real environments. Any remaining gaps are structural and can be addressed easily with continued experience or formal study if you choose.

Looking Ahead

Studying C++ will strengthen your understanding of memory, lifetimes, and low-level system behavior. Given how you already think about problems, this will likely sharpen your skills rather than overwhelm you.