Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?

Post by empressplay » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:35 PM UTC

kc0bfv wrote: post #24

kc0bfv wrote: post #23

Programming a computer is a way of thinking. It in some ways involves the same thinking as determining how to break down a mechanical manufacturing process, or parts of team management (sport or industry), or legal arguments, or considering how biology works. Basic logic is part of this, as is process decomposition, as is just learning a new way of communicating and many other things. Learning new ways of thinking ma…

And to the kids I say - you can make a videogame. That was always compelling to me, although I knew I'd never be a game developer professionally.

Post by agentwiggles » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:43 PM UTC

gazby wrote: post #91

tetraca wrote: post #63

If they aren't themselves drawn to and captivated by the medium, then they simply shouldn't be here. They should be somewhere they actually care about instead. You could maybe set something up that would pique their interest (modding a video game, a robotics project, automating some bit of rote math homework they hate), and if it does, take that lead and support them in any way you can. Otherwise, it's just proselyti…

We can't all love what we do that makes us a living though. The HN audience probably skew very heavily toward loving tech and thus enjoying their work in that industry, but for those without the innate interest it's still better to have a job with good benefits, salary, working conditions etc than one without those things.

Post by kradeelav » Mon, May 09, 2022, 6:07 PM UTC

tristor wrote: post #26

For me, it was always simple. Learning to program gives you control over your environment, and in some sense the world. This is more true now then it was when I was a teenager. For most teens the thing they grate against the most is lack of control over themselves and their direction. Programming puts you back in control. You can make a general purpose computer do anything you can imagine.

Post by tetraca » Mon, May 09, 2022, 7:19 PM UTC

pie42000 wrote: post #60

photochemsyn wrote: post #56

Programming is difficult, and forcing young people to do something difficult that they don't find intrinsically interesting and compelling is mostly a waste of time and effort. Just because a parent wants their child to be able to play the piano with great skill doesn't mean they'll take to it. However, learning to use computers for relatively simple tasks and as an aid in other areas makes a lot of sense. Take the c…

"Just because a parent wants their child to be able to play the piano with great skill doesn't mean they'll take to it" And yet the beast, vast majority of kids who were forced to learn to play a musical instrument are grateful that their parents forced them to do it, even if they do not "take to it" i.e. 99.9% of kids. The ones who didn't get forced to learn an instrument regret missing out. As a parent you are buil…

Post by cruano » Mon, May 09, 2022, 7:29 PM UTC

agentwiggles wrote: post #94

gazby wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We can't all love what we do that makes us a living though. The HN audience probably skew very heavily toward loving tech and thus enjoying their work in that industry, but for those without the innate interest it's still better to have a job with good benefits, salary, working conditions etc than one without those things.

+1, I say this all the time. Are plumbers "passionate" about their jobs? Did the garbage man end up in his role because of his childhood love of moving garbage? No. So in a world where you'll likely have to drudge through some form of employment, you might as well learn a well paid, _actually valuable_ trade that you get to do from an air conditioned office.