He was looking for gratification and external approval. The comment was designed for that, and his defensiveness and unwillingness to engage in a deeper discuss

He was looking for gratification and external approval. The comment was designed for that, and his defensiveness and unwillingness to engage in a deeper discussion of the issues only proves it, because anyone who meant what they said would own up - "Yeah, I guess that's true, I can't get it right either. Like this one time I..." and instead we get "ho ho, no, you have it all wrong, grasshopper. The code is everything, I am nothing. armfold" Yes, that makes it ironic.