Every experienced programmer hits this phase - ...
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Every experienced programmer hits this phase - the moment you see a $60/month tool and think, "I can just build that myself." But here's the trap: you'll spend weeks coding, debugging, maintaining... and end up wasting thousands of dollars' worth of your time - all to "save" $60. The Primeagen calls it the programmer's problem forgetting to discount convenience. Sometimes, it's smarter to buy time instead of rebuilding wheels. Be honest - have you ever fallen into this trap before? Follow @realbigbrainai to stay up to date with the latest Al news.

0:37 Feb 11, 2026 62,340 4,447
@realbigbrainai
115 words 80% confidence
This is what I call the programmers problem, which is that every programmer that gets to a certain experience level believes they can pretty much make all products. And so when they see something charging $60 a month, they go, I can just build that. Why would I pay? Why would I pay $60 a month? I when I can build that you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna spend a long time building it spending effectively thousands of dollars in my time. And I'll just build my own save that $60 a month ease. I think I think there's this thing that is broken in programmers heads where they forget to discount convenience.

Summary

Experienced programmers often fall into the trap of thinking they can build tools instead of paying for them. This mindset can lead to wasted time and resources, highlighting the importance of valuing convenience.

Key Points

  1. Experienced programmers often underestimate the value of convenience.
  2. Many think they can build tools instead of paying for them.
  3. This mindset can lead to wasted time and resources.
  4. The 'programmer's problem' is a common trap to avoid.
  5. Sometimes it's better to buy time than to reinvent the wheel.

Tags

programming time-management productivity software-development

Repurpose Ideas

  • LinkedIn post: The cost of building vs. buying tools.
  • Tweet: Why convenience matters in programming decisions.
  • Checklist: Evaluate when to build or buy software.

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