Scrolling through our feeds and getting our daily dose of laughs may feel effortless, but the behind-the-scenes work that makes it all possible definitely isn’t.
All the thinking, coding, and developing that keeps our devices and the web running—the stuff we never see—is what holds everything together. It’s what ensures our memes reach our friends and our food arrives at our doorstep with just a tap.
Naturally, programmers need their own way to cope with all that stress. So to give them a little relief, we’ve gathered some of the funniest posts from the Programmer Humor subreddit. Scroll down and enjoy.
#1 Wearehumanstoo
Image credits: SoumyadeepDey
#2 Ifyoudidntknow
Image credits: Dishpit
Look, sure, there are plenty of stressful jobs out there, and burnout isn’t unique to tech. Many of us have felt overwhelmed at work at some point.
But for reference: the average burnout rate among full-time workers in the US sits at around 51%. Among software developers, that jumps to 83%, according to research cited by Haystack.
That’s… a lot. Painfully a lot. And definitely not something anyone would wish on a colleague, let alone themselves. So why is coding pushing people this far?
#3 Literallyme
Image credits: Yuchenj_UW
#4 Poorusers
Image credits: Creepy_Vehicle
It turns out there are several things about the nature of software development that add a lot of pressure.
For one, the job is often deeply project-based and deadline-driven, notes Runn. Projects change, timelines move, requirements expand, and suddenly the workload that was manageable last week becomes something no sane person could finish before Friday.
When deadlines slip or expectations balloon, developers are often the ones absorbing the stress behind the scenes.
#5 Thebeautifulcode
Image credits: g1rlchild
#6 Itgoesbothwaysdumbass
Image credits: RenSanders
#7 Justonemoreyearicanfeelit
Image credits: skygetsit
There’s also the issue of unrealistic expectations, both from within the company and from clients who may not understand the complexity of what they’re asking for.
As Runn points out, developers frequently end up trying to explain why something “simple” is actually weeks of work. When that explanation isn’t heard, frustration builds. So on top of the existing workload, there’s the feeling of being unheard when your challenges aren’t really acknowledged.
#8 Itshardoutthere
Image credits: Shiveringdev
#9 Itsdamntrue
Image credits: TheProgrammerMe
#10 Removingram
Image credits: GirlsNeverDies
Then there’s the constant pressure to be available. Bugs don’t care about evenings, weekends, sleep schedules, or family gatherings.
As Samuel Burri, VP of Engineering at the DFINITY Foundation, explained to Finextra, when critical issues are discovered after a product goes live, it’s the developers who are responsible for fixing them.
Being inundated with calls, bug reports, and alerts during those moments can leave them feeling powerless, and that sense of being constantly “on call” is a major contributor to burnout.
#11 Somethingsup
Image credits: RhysSullivan
#12 Uhohoursourceisnext
Image credits: Independent_Heart_15
#13 Johnisajollygoodfellow
Image credits: maifee
On top of that, many developers are juggling too much at once. They have to jump between multiple projects, platforms, and codebases in a single day. According to Runn, this “context switching” drains mental energy fast.
And yet, ironically, the opposite—being stuck on the same repetitive task for too long—can also lead to burnout by numbing motivation. There is no perfect balance, only the ongoing attempt to find one.
#14 Anothertoughdayatwork
Image credits: Shiroyasha_2308
#15 Trustmebroascriptwillbefaster
Image credits: Most_Option_9153
#16 Wedontknowhow
Image credits: RhysSullivan
Technical debt is another big contributor to burnout. It happens when code is written quickly to meet a deadline, instead of being built in a clean, sustainable way. Those shortcuts might work for the moment, but over time, they turn the system into something harder and harder to manage.
As Samuel Burri explained, when these older quick fixes pile up, developers end up running into problems that shouldn’t still exist. Instead of focusing on new features or meaningful work, they’re forced to go back and sort through past shortcuts. It’s draining and demoralizing.
#17 Therapybutmakeitpython
Image credits: Intial_Leader
#18 Originalcodenowvibe
Image credits: Krayvok
#19 Ripfirefox
Image credits: RockJoonLee
And while burnout impacts the person first and foremost, it also has real consequences for companies. Burnout makes developers more tired and more prone to mistakes, as JetBrains’ data indicates.
That leads to bugs, rework, missed deadlines, and eventually, people quitting jobs they once cared about. Replacing a developer isn’t cheap either: the Work Institute estimates it can cost about 33% of their salary.
#20 Mondayfeelsdifferent
Image credits: witcherisdamned
#21 Startuppingintensifies
Image credits: electricjimi
#22 Imeanitsnotwrong
Image credits: Shiroyasha_2308
But experts agree on one thing: you can’t just “push through” burnout. And telling someone to “take a vacation” isn’t a magical cure either.
The solution has to go deeper than temporary fixes. Workplaces need long-term systems that prevent constant overload, where workloads are actually manageable and people aren’t stretched to their limits every single day.
#23 Nobugsfound
Image credits: I_dont_want_to_fight
#24 Yousonofagun
Image credits: ManagerOfLove
#25 LOL
Image credits: Eastern-Swordfish776
So, ultimately, companies that want to keep their people healthy (and, honestly, keep their people period) need to create a work environment where communication is open and people feel safe speaking up.
That means treating developers like humans. Give them reasonable availability expectations and make sure their workload allows for actual breathing room. When work feels manageable and purposeful, developers stay. And companies benefit from teams that are more engaged and willing to do good work.
#26 Whydopeoplepeoplelisten
Image credits: ____candied_yams____
#27 Regexmustbedestroyed
Image credits: Guilty-Ad3342
#28 Truehappinesss
Image credits: WinnieFlicker_67
#29 Reinventthewheel
Image credits: bewildered_forks
#30 Neverforgetthatonesrdev
Image credits: skygetsit
#31 Pleaseapprovemypr
Image credits: GiveMeThePeatBoys
#32 Teaandinnitfunction
Image credits: jtannady
#33 Firstdayofweek
Image credits: claudixk
#34 Ittakestwominstoopen
Image credits: yuva-krishna-memes
#35 Strictvschilltypesystems
Image credits: Astrikal
#36 Wellwellwell
Image credits: soap94
#37 Youallknowthis
Image credits: KaamDeveloper
#38 Justchooseonegoddamn
Image credits: InsertaGoodName
#39 Packetloss
Image credits: Jinium
#40 Oopisaparadigmpoopisalifestyle
Image credits: Intial_Leader
