It is possible to be a programmer at any age. However, getting hired is a different thing. I don't know what part of the world you are in, however age related d

It is possible to be a programmer at any age. However, getting hired is a different thing. I don't know what part of the world you are in, however age related discrimination happens, especially in Silicon Valley. I haven't heard reports in the bigger companies but in startups, yes. I think there are a few reasons for it: 1. There are a lot of startups where the glamor of the industry means that they can easily pressure 20 something fresh out of school folks who are probably also suffering from imposter syndrome that the only way to learn is to work insane amounts of hours. I have no problems with working hard on improving yourself but a work life balance and doing productive work are not the same as that. I still remember one startup where one of the co-founders took pride in telling me that a guy in his team spent 30 days sleeping at work. Fuck that noise. As a person more experienced, you are probably well aware of that balance. However, as a junior developer, you are probably not as productive as someone else your age. 2. Money. The nature of American society means that people don't talk about their wages. Programmers while being well paid compared to the rest of America are not at least initially as much as they should be. As an older person, there may be a perception that you won't work for ridiculously low amounts of money and be cool with that. 3. Culture fit. A company of people who conflate having similar interests (board games, craft beer or whatever other bullshit your tiny subculture may have) with being able to collaboratively build amazing shit can easily convince themselves that someone who doesn't fit into that profile will not be a good fit.