121 Ways You Know You Are In Tech

Are You in Tech?

I AM TECH, no seriously, I am “Technikole”. Its a name I’m proud of because it fits me and who I am. In world that is pivoting its ways to showcase “everyone” as tech, its important that we KNOW tech not just how to look at it. Its finally clear to everyone else that techies are some of the coolest people on the planet. We are no longer the nerds that are shoved into lockers or geeks who reflect Steve Urkel and wishing we were (with) Ste-fine-Urk-kel…No no those days are gone.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, it’s easy to get caught up in the tech scene without truly being part of it. Are you the one who’s knee-deep in code, setting up servers, and automating your workflows? Or are you more of a tech socialite — someone who loves being on the scene, attending the latest tech events, but doesn’t know a CLI from an IDE?

If you’ve ever wondered where you fall on the spectrum, this list of 121 ways will help you figure out if you’re genuinely in tech or just mingling with those who are.

Let’s find out!

121 Ways to Know You Are In Tech

1. You Have a GitHub Account with Repositories You’re Proud Of
   Your code is out there, making the world a better place.
2. You’ve Argued Over the Best Text Editor
   Whether it’s VS Code, Vim, or Sublime, you’ve got a strong opinion.
3. Android vs. Apple Is a Never-Ending Debate for You
   You have strong opinions and you’re not shy about defending your preferred platform. Whether it’s the open-source freedom of Android or the ecosystem of Apple, you’re always ready to jump into the debate and have for years.
4. When asked if you know another language you say absolutely!
   Your fluency isn’t in French or Spanish, its Python, JavaScript, or C++
5. You Consider Coffee as an Essential Part of your Daily Code
   Your day doesn’t really start until that first cup of coffee is brewed.
6. You’ve Integrated Bots into Your Discord Server for Automation
   Whether it’s for notifications, memes, or task management, you’ve got bots handling it.
7. You Understand the Power of Open Source
   Collaboration and community-driven development are everything.
8. You Have More Tech Gadgets Than Kitchen Appliances
   You have a blender because it talks to your watch and has onscreen analytics of the berry blend rate.
9. You’ve Set Up Automated Reminders for Everything
   If it’s not automated, it’s not worth doing.
10. You Regularly Attend Virtual Conferences
    You’ve become a pro at navigating the Metaverse or Zoom, since day 1.
11. You Follow Product Releases Like They’re Sporting Events
    New Android or iPhone releasing? You’ve already got the specs memorized.
12. You’ve Got Multiple Monitors for Maximum Productivity
    One screen is never enough.
13. You Have Strong Opinions on Light vs. Dark Mode
    And you’ll defend your choice fiercely.
14. You Analyze the Technology in Sci-Fi Shows
    You don’t just watch Black Mirror, The Peripheral, Person of Interest, Mr. Robot — you’re scrutinizing the tech and debating how feasible it really is and while making a shopping list.
15. You Know More Keyboard Shortcuts Than Anyone You Know
    Copy, paste, open new tab—all done without touching the mouse.
16. Your Social Media Feeds are Filled with Tech News
    Algorithms know what you love: tech updates, memes, and the occasional cat video.
17. You Prefer Digital Over Paper Any Day
    From note-taking to contracts, everything’s better when it’s digital.
18. You Get Your News from Marques Brownlee
    When it comes to staying updated, you don’t rely on traditional news outlets—you turn to MKBHD for the latest in tech reviews, gadget launches, and industry trends. If it’s not on Marques’ channel, it’s not on your radar
19. You Get Excited About New APIs
    Connecting different systems together feels like magic.
20. Your Idea of a Relationship Has Everything to Do with Relational Databases
    When you hear the word “relationship,” your mind immediately goes to tables, keys, and SQL queries rather than dating or romance. For you, relationships are all about data integrity and efficient connections.
21. You Own a T-Shirt with a Code Joke on It
    And only other techies get it – ID, 10, T error anyone?!
22. You Can Troubleshoot Almost Anything
    Friends and family rely on you as their personal tech support.
23. You’re Constantly Learning New Programming Languages
    Python, JavaScript, Rust—there’s always something new to master.
24. You Get Frustrated with Poor UX/UI
    Bad design is your pet peeve…you inspected it so you know what you know.
25. You Read Documentation Like a Pro
    And you’ve even contributed to some open-source projects.

26. You Have Backup Plans for Your Backup Plans
    Disaster recovery is something you think about often.
27. Your Idea of Fun is a Hackathon Weekend
    Pizza, caffeine, and coding—what could be better?
28. You Know All the Best Online Tools for Productivity
    You’re always the one suggesting new apps to your team.
29. You Track Your Daily Steps with Wearable Tech
    Health meets tech in every part of your life.
30. Your Internet Connection Speed is a Top Priority
    When shopping for your last apartment, your questions are “Who is the provider, how fast is it and can I increase it?” Shared connections are an instant, “pass”.
31. You Get Excited About Blockchain
    And you’re always explaining it to others.
32. You Follow the Careers of Tech Titans Like Celebrities
    Timnit Gebru, Sundar Pichai, Siraj Rival, Marques Brownlee, Satya Nadella and Neil deGrasse Tyson are like family to you.
33. Your Bookmarks Bar is a Mess of Dev Tools and Tutorials
    Organized chaos is your digital life motto.
34. You’re Always in Beta for the Latest Apps
    Being an early adopter is a badge of honor and you’ve got the crashes to prove it. (Screenshots or it didn’t happen!)
35. You’ve Tried to Calculate How a Lightsaber Might Actually Work
    You’ve spent time thinking about the physics and engineering required to make a real lightsaber, and you have theories on how it could be possible.
36. You Think of Your Phone’s Voice Assistant as Your Personal C-3PO
    You imagine Siri or Google Assistant is like having your own protocol droid, ready to help you with techy tasks.
37. You’ve Tried to Explain AI to Your Grandparents
    And realized it’s easier said than done and also…they get it!
38. You’ve Used “It Works on My Machine” as an Excuse
    Because sometimes, it just does, period.
39. Your Inbox is a Constant Stream of Notifications
    Because Slack just doesn’t cut it for you.
40. You’re Obsessed with Cybersecurity
    Password managers, two-factor authentication—you’re all over it.
41. You Get a Rush from Seeing Green Tests in Your CI Pipeline
    Success feels good, doesn’t it?
42. You’ve Spent Hours Customizing Your IDE
    Because the default settings just don’t cut it.
43. You Solve Problems with Code, Coupled with Common Sense
    When faced with an issue, your first instinct is to write a script or troubleshoot the system rather than just finding a practical solution. For you, coding is the key to unlocking solutions, and you approach problems with a technical mindset.
44. You Use Command Line for Everything
    Graphical interfaces are for amateurs.
45. You Get Notifications from GitHub More Than Social Media
    Pushes, pulls, and merges are your bread and butter.
46. You Feel a Way About Stack Overflow
    Love it or hate it, you know what it is and have been there billions of times to get support for the error that just won’t go away.
47. You Keep Up with the Latest in Quantum Computing
    Because the future is quantum, and you want to be ready.
48. You’ve Experimented with IoT Projects at Home
    Your home is smarter than most people’s offices.
49. You’ve Taken a Course on Blockchain and/or AI Just for Fun
    Because learning is a never-ending journey in tech.
50. You Can Spot a Phishing Email from a Mile Away
    Your cybersecurity instincts are razor-sharp.

51. You Have an Opinion on the Best Programming Font
    And you won’t settle for anything less than perfection.
52. You’ve Built Your Own PC
    Off-the-shelf just isn’t your style.
53. You’ve Given a Talk at a Tech Conference
    Sharing your knowledge with the community is important to you.
54. You’ve Participated in a Code Review
    And you take it seriously.
55. You’ve Tried Every Task Management App Out There
    And still haven’t found the perfect one.
56. You Get Excited About Machine Learning Models
    Predictive analytics is where it’s at.
57. You Containerize Everything In Your Digital World
    Keeping environments consistent is key.
58. You’ve Argued About the Best Programming Language
    Whether it’s JavaScript vs Go, you’ve got a favorite.
59. You’ve Attended a Virtual Reality Meetup
    Exploring the future of immersive tech is exciting.
60. You Own a 3D Printer (or an Electric Skateboard)
    And you’ve used it to create something cool.
61. You’ve Tried Your Hand at Ethical Hacking
    Penetration testing is just part of keeping systems secure.
62. You’ve Set Up a Home Lab to Test New Tech
    Because learning doesn’t stop at the office.
63. You’re Always Looking for Ways to Automate Mundane Tasks
    If it can be automated, you’ve done it.
64. You’ve Tried Out Every New Browser That Comes Out
    And you have strong opinions about each one.
65. You’ve Used AI to generate data for your project site.
    You leverage AI tools to automate data generation and enhance your project site. For you, AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s an essential tool for optimizing and scaling your work.
66. You Have Multiple Cloud Storage Accounts
    Redundancy is key, even in your personal life.
67. You Use a Password Manager for Everything
    Security first, always (or don’t for the same reason, strategically).
68. You’ve Created Your Own Personal Website
    And it’s not just a blog—it’s a full-fledged web app.
69. You’re the Go-To Person for Tech Recommendations
    Friends and family know you’re the one to ask.
70. You’ve Built Your Own Smart Home Setup
    Lights, locks, and more—controlled from your phone.
71. You’ve Tried Building Your Own AI Chatbot
    And it’s more useful than you expected.
72. You’ve Delved into Cryptography Just for Fun
    Securing data is more than just a job—it’s a passion.
73. You’ve Contributed to an Open Source Project
    Giving back to the community is important to you.
74. You’ve Gone to a Tech Meetup in a Different City Just to Network
    Expanding your tech circle is always a good idea.
75. You See Star Trek as a Vision of the Future and Star Wars as a Cautionary Tale
    You believe that the utopian tech of Star Trek is something to strive for, while the dystopian elements of Star Wars are warnings about tech gone wrong.

76. You Know the Differences Between Various Linux Distros
    And you have a favorite, of course.
77. You Get Excited About New Processor Releases
    The power of computing is always advancing, and you’re here for it.
78. You’ve Experimented with Edge Computing
    Decentralized processing at the edge—why not?
79. You’ve Built Your Own VPN
    Because privacy matters.
80. You Have a Favorite Podcast That’s All About Tech
    Whether it’s news, interviews, or deep dives, you’re always listening.
81. You’ve Attended a Hackathon
    And maybe even won something.
82. You Get Excited About Data Visualization Tools
    There’s nothing like seeing data come to life.
83. You’ve Experimented with Serverless Architecture
    Scaling without managing servers? Sign you up.
84. You’ve Set Up a CI/CD Pipeline for Your Projects
    Continuous integration and delivery are essential for smooth deployments.
85. You’ve Dabbled in Robotics
    Building something that moves is just cool.
86. You’ve Tried Out the Latest No-Code Platforms
    Even if you love coding, no-code can be intriguing.
87. Your Desktop is Full of Terminal Windows
    You feel at home when you see a black screen with green text.
88. You Use Discord More Than Email for Team Communication
    Instant feedback and community vibes make it the go-to platform.
89. You’ve Debugged Code at 3 AM
    Sleep can wait when you’re chasing down that bug.
90. You Keep Up with Tech Startups and Their Funding Rounds
    Watching the next big thing unfold is thrilling.
91. You’ve Tested Out the Latest AR/VR Headsets
    Immersive experiences are the future, and you’re ahead of the curve.
92. You’ve Configured Your Router for Optimal Wi-Fi
    Dead zones in your house? Not on your watch.
93. You’ve Installed Beta Software Just to Get a Sneak Peek
    Living on the edge of new tech is where you thrive.
94. You’ve Tinkered with Raspberry Pi Projects
    Small, versatile, and endlessly fun to experiment with.
95. You’ve Used a Blockchain to Build a DApp
    Decentralized applications are fascinating, and you’ve created one.
96. You’ve Thought About Going Off the Grid—Digitally
    And then immediately knew you could never do it because you love tech too much.
97. You’ve Set Up a Home Server Just Because
    Whether for media, development, or cloud storage, it’s a must-have
98. You know what gwei, gas, Etherscan and blockchain congestion are and what they mean to the your project
    Terms like gwei, gas fees, Etherscan, and blockchain congestion aren’t just jargon to you—they’re crucial elements that directly impact the efficiency and cost of your blockchain-based projects. You understand how each factor influences transaction costs and project performance, and you use this knowledge to navigate and optimize your work in the crypto space.
99. You’ve Tried to Explain the Cloud to Non-Tech Friends
    When talking about “the cloud,” you’ve had to clarify that it’s not some magical place in the sky but a network of servers—and you probably ended up showing them how it works with your favorite cloud storage app.
100. You’ve Followed a Livestream of a Product Launch
     And experienced the hype in real time.

101. You’ve Mastered the Art of Remote Collaboration
     Video calls, shared docs, and virtual whiteboards are second nature; your custom office is WAY better than anything onsite.
102. You’re Obsessed with Clean Code
     If it’s not readable, it’s not done.
103. You’ve Set Up a Dual Boot System on Your Laptop
     Why settle for one OS when you can have two?
104. You’ve Tried Out Quantum Programming Languages
     Q# or Qiskit—curiosity always leads you to cutting-edge stuff.
105. You’ve Written a Technical Blog Post
     Sharing your knowledge with the world is part of your routine.
106. You’ve Got Multiple Backup Solutions for Your Data
     Cloud, local, and even an external hard drive—just to be safe.
107. You’ve Experimented with Neural Networks and AI Models
     Training models and seeing them improve is addictive.
108. You’ve Written Scripts to Automate Repetitive Tasks
     If it’s mundane, it’s getting scripted.
109. You’ve Set Up Your Own Discord Server for Tech Discussions
     Managing channels, roles, and bots to keep the conversation flowing.
110. You Use Git Terms in Everyday Life
     You catch yourself saying things like “I need to revert that decision” or “I’m branching off on a new project” in non-tech contexts.
111. You Schedule Your Life with Project Management Tools
     Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello aren’t just for work; you use them to manage personal projects and even day-to-day tasks.
112. You Know What a Stack Overflow Error Is—and It’s Not Just a Website
     While Stack Overflow is your go-to for troubleshooting, you also know the original meaning of a stack overflow error in programming.
113. Your Dev Stack is Not a Pile of Papers.
     When you hear “stack,” you don’t think of paperwork—you think of the collection of tools, frameworks, and languages you use to build and deploy applications. To you, a “stack” is all about tech, not office supplies.
114. You’ve Named Your Wi-Fi Network Something Techy
     Your home Wi-Fi network isn’t just named after a generic term; it’s something like “LAN Solo” or “Drop It Like It’s Hotspot.
115. You See Code in Everything
     From traffic patterns to how your coffee machine works, you’re constantly thinking about how systems are coded and automated.
116. You Get Excited About Software Updates
     While others might ignore or delay software updates, you’re eager to see what’s new and how it might improve your workflow or devices.
117. You Keep Track of Tech Conferences Like They’re Holidays
     Events like WWDC, Google I/O, or CES are marked on your calendar, and you follow the announcements as closely as others follow sports or entertainment events.
118. You Talk About ‘Scalability’ in Everyday Life
     When planning anything, whether it’s a project or an event, you’re always thinking about how it will scale and handle increased demand.
119. You Know Tech Magic Tricks Like “Turn it off and back on again”
     You’ve played tech support more times than you can count, and your go-to advice is always the classic “turn it off and on again.”
120. ‘Ping’ Is Not Just a Game You Play at the Office
     For you, “ping” isn’t about a friendly game of table tennis—it’s a vital network command used to test connectivity between devices. Whether you’re checking server status or troubleshooting a connection, “ping” is a tool, not just a way to pass time at work.
121. You’re Up to Snuff on Your Star Trek and Star Wars References
     Whether you’re talking about AI or space exploration, you can’t resist slipping in a “Beam me up, Scotty” or “May the Force be with you” reference.

Are You a Techie?

If you found yourself laughing out loud with an audible “yep” to these 121 signs, it’s clear—you’re deeply entrenched in the tech world. From the coding quirks to the community culture, being in tech is about more than just the job; it’s a way of life. So whether you’re a developer, an engineer, hacker, coder, or a part of the team, embrace the nerdy, quirky, and often hilarious aspects of the industry that only one of us can understand.

If you’re in tech, you know there’s nothing else quite like it.

All of the images here are tech, literally – AiRT Work by Technikole.