The world we live in is built on computer power.

From the smartphones that so many of us can’t put down to the global banking systems, nearly every aspect of daily life depends on complex (or, occasionally, quite simple) layers of software functioning without a hitch. If we didn’t have computers, pretty much any of the innovations that we can celebrate in the modern day simply wouldn’t exist.

Given this reality, the role of a programmer is undoubtedly something that is significant to us. While endlessly going over the same few lines of code at a desk can sometimes feel boring or routine, the cumulative impact of that work remains vital. Even the smallest of bug fixes can contribute to systems that millions of people rely upon to make some aspect of their existence function better. Programming is almost always much more than whatever menial task has to be done. It is a necessary part of supporting the infrastructure of contemporary human life.

Still, it’s not like you are going to find too many of these lofty proclamations in programming memes. Through their network of inside jokes, these memes articulate the petty gripes and occasional successes of all kinds of developers. They give voice to all the different annoyances and anxieties that come from being introduced to the world of code. Programming memes create both a sense of community and rivalry among people fluent in one or more programming languages, reminding them that they aren’t alone in their quest to make computers work better.