[booduh]

A "rockstar" programmer, simply put, is a manager's wet dream. There isn't a competent programmer, experienced with those that use this term, that want to be seen anywhere near it.

The term started as a marketing tool to get people in the door, and is now overused and loaded with unhappy feelings.

Before the BS, a rock star programmer is what every front end dev aspired to be (or thought they were): the best.