How I discovered I was a developer:

The company had hired a pair of computer science graduates and we had been commissioned to build a magento store. Weeks went buy with limited progress, and missing functionality was met with protestations from the devs about unreasonable demands.

At this time I had been taken on as a designer / casual front end developer (though the focus was on design). I knew HTML, CSS and some very limited php and js.

We were severely over deadline, and seeing the desperation on people's faces I suggested looking into it.

I read the magento docs, got an install up an running, configured an installed plugins, integrated the theme using the complex multilevelled XML/phtml architecture magento uses and even got some of the more complex js functionality working using JavaScript.

In two weeks.

I'm now the lead developer

When you find the most incredible jacket ever in a vintage shop but don't have enough $$$. So you spend the next week doing freelance projects on the side of your day job, clocking as little as 1.5 hrs sleep some nights, only to find said jacket gone when you return TT_TT

If someone asks you for a quote on a project and they use the phrase "It's like [SOCIAL_MEDIA_SERVICE], but for [TARGETED_DEMOGRAPHIC]" and they don't have VC funding, you're gonna have a bad time.

Worst part of being a web dev is spending the majority of your life making stuff you'll never touch with your hands

Client: I want a fixed timescale and cost on this project.

Me: OK, what do you need?

Client: We need to integrate our website with our CRM system, which we're in the middle of rebuilding and don't know what data will be available from it. We also want sophisticated Google maps integration, online sale, digital agreement signing and a customer login section that works as a social network for our clients. And we want it in six months time. And an app. And we want you to pitch for free with some initial design concepts. And we want details of you project management strategy.

Me: Ok... Do you know what you want your app to do?

Client: Yes, it's an app! So how much will this cost me?

Me: D':

Finishing a week long moonlighting rampage burning the candle at both end. Feeling like I need to go into hibernation!