Programming Barriers Are Self-Imposed

In the information age, the barriers [to enter into programming] just aren't there. The barriers are self imposed. If you want to set off and go develop some grand new thing, you don't need millions of dollars of capitalization. You need enough pizza and Diet Coke to stick in your refrigerator, a cheap PC to work on, and the dedication to go through with it. We slept on floors. We waded across rivers. John D. Carmack

A motivational quote attributed to John D. Carmack about entering programming with minimal resources. The joke is the exaggerated contrast between humble necessities like pizza, Diet Coke, and a cheap PC and the grand ambition of creating something new. It is shared as an inspirational or ironic reaction to excuses about not having enough money, equipment, or ideal conditions.

• @right_wing_dev_squads / 14238 2026-04-20