Reading this article inspired me to raise some questions to the developers community.

In case you don't want to read the post, the writer, Anton Frattaroli (https://dev.to/antonfrattaroli) says that he was asked a question in a job interview, and the question was: "What happens when you type 'google.com' into a browser and press Enter?".

Why is this even an interview question for a DEVELOPER?

Why a basketball player is NOT required to also know how to play football or tennis?

Why a Math teacher is not also required to teach Physics or Chemistry?

Why a house painter cannot paint cars or paintings as well?

Why a dentist cannot operate on your heart?

...

WHY is it when it comes to DEVELOPERS, we are supposed to know NETWORKING, OS shell/bash/commands, other languages, the WEB, the INTERNET, COMPUTER HARDWARE etc..?

I believe, as developers, we are required to know our language (PHP, Java, Python..) very well. We also should be required to know couple of frameworks and technologies accompanied with that language, such as Laravel(framework), MySQL(database). And we should know some "global" tools such as an IDE/Editor (PHPStorm, Sublime), versioning tool (git, SVN) and so on. For a web developer, HTML/CSS/JavaScript is a must. But beyond those, I really don't see why a PHP developer would stuff their head with Networking or OS specific info.

Surely, knowing more is better, but I don't think it makes you better developer than someone who REALLY understands PHP.

The thing is, as developers, we usually get to know things, about networking, OS, the WEB and so on JUST to get the development process ahead. I remember installing PHP and MySQL on a Redhat server just so I can write some applications later on. I cannot say how MAD I was when I was asked to do so and how HAPPYYYY I was when i did it! I enjoyed learning a new thing. We all do as developers. Which is why, I think, people who are not developers EXPECT from us to know everything!

We need to set boundaries. Ask us about what we love to do, what we learned and did for thousands of hours. Don't ask us about the few hours we spent reading an article about Networking, or the few hours I spent installing PHP on a server. We are ADAPTABLE bunch, us the developers. We can do almost anything! But let us do what we are BEST at it!

In case I missed something, feel free to add your thoughts!