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Please don't learn to code

codinghorror.com

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Re: Please don't learn to code

#2

Post by exDM69 »

I recently learned how to plumb a little. Now I can do minor household plumbing fixes without having to hire professional help. A very useful skill indeed. I know it's a demanding activity that requires more than reading a book and knowing how to hold a wrench, so I know to stay away from the serious pipes and stick to little fixes.

Re: Please don't learn to code

#3

Post by primecommenter »

"Can you explain to me how Michael Bloomberg would be better at his day to day job of leading the largest city in the USA if he woke up one morning as a crack Java coder?"

If anything should trickle down, it would be the joy and satisfaction of acquiring a basic competence.

Re: Please don't learn to code

#4

Post by philbarr »

exDM69 wrote: post #2

I recently learned how to plumb a little. Now I can do minor household plumbing fixes without having to hire professional help. A very useful skill indeed. I know it's a demanding activity that requires more than reading a book and knowing how to hold a wrench, so I know to stay away from the serious pipes and stick to little fixes.

Exactly - everyone should learn basic plumbing! Not the best analogy he could have used.

Re: Please don't learn to code

#5

Post by brc »

I get what he is saying, not everyone can or should be a programmer. But if you take 'learn to code' as a euphemism for learning how to build an excel spreadsheet properly, how to write a macro to automate your job, something like that, then, well learning to write a bit of code isn't a bad thing at all.

We all benefit when we learn a little bit about another profession, whether it is painting or plumbing, bricklaying or baking. In that context demystifying coding for the average person isn't a bad goal. Just to clue people in that tough solutions they have might be easily solved is a good thing. Getting people to wrap their heads around logical thinking is definitely a good thing.

Re: Please don't learn to code

#6

Post by tezza »

I applaud 'Learning to code' if it defined as:

* taking problems and reducing them to a sequence of repeatable instructions and decision points (branches)

.

I think 'LtC' is irrelevant if defined as:

* I wanna make iPhone apps / Facebook plugins / Instagram ... Where do I get the Magic Handshake for the Mega $$$ ?

Re: Please don't learn to code

#7

Post by rpsw »

The thing is, programming can help automate basic tasks. Anyone who uses a computer regularly can benefit from this fact. Sometimes, these tasks are just throwaway scripts - but they save time.

I mean, even learning Excel and it's various functions is a form of programming and undoubtedly a valuable skills even for a politician.

Re: Please don't learn to code

#8

Post by ig1 »

If you understand how to code you have a much better idea of what's achievable by code and what's not.

(incidentally given Michael Bloomberg has a degree in electrical engineering and he founded a multi-billion dollar tech company in the 80s I'm pretty sure he can code already; even if only in fortran)

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