Please Learn to Code

Interesting point: people need to know how different it is to customize a WordPress theme and building a Rails CMS. If, before knowing how to actually code, people can judge of the quantity and quality of work required to build something, the world will certainly be better.

I think learning how computers/software works is just as useful as learning history or geography or science, which we already make students learn.

I expected a similar post to hit HN, since I too was shocked by Jeff's comments. However I do not think people should learn to code for the same reason.

Sure writing a website is cool, but then again, learning plumbing is cool, which is the basis of Jeff's argumentation. Plumbing can empower you by giving you control over your own house and appliances, etc, etc.

I think the real reason people should learn to code, is because an increasing number will have to deal with machines in every day lives, often taking decision affecting the work (and general lives) of others based on their understanding of those same machines:

- The legislator who has to pass laws about computers and/or the Internet.

- The manager who has to assess the usefulness of a new software application.

- The teacher educating kids and preparing them for the modern world.

- The consumer who wants to make an informed choice when chosing the latest gadget, not blindly follow what marketing departments tell her to.

- The judge and jurors overseeing the Oracle-vs-Google case.

I want to make the distinction that I wish people would learn to Code, not so they can "make" stuff, but so they can "understand" stuff.

Please justify why you think it's a bad comparison?

I think it's apt. Cooking shares many qualities with coding, you're under time deadlines to produce something for a end consumer (for the most part). There's lots of competing methods and you have to select which ones work best for the product you want to produce.

Most importantly you can cook something amazing that everyone loves, or a charred lump that no one will touch. Much the same as coding.

I'm going to leave this here - since I've been talking about this for a while.

http://reviewsindepth.com/2011/04/why-everyone-should-learn-...

I really think the issue is deeper than current commentators are addressing.