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So you want to learn to code

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Re: So you want to learn to code

#11

Yet another random article perpetuating the concept of the "real coder". Are there things called "real lawyers"? "Real Doctors"? "Real Falafel makers"? Coding started as a hobby for most "real coders" and ever since the industry has had a hard on for "real coders" - to the point where if you aren't a "real coder" your ONLY choice of action is to go into project management or sales? Good god, what a messed up industry…

Every field has stars and 'everybody else'. Physicians know who to send send their family members to. Quality chef's command more respect and make higher quality food. etc. I speak from experience. The same is true in programming.

No... every field as a spectrum of talent. From "stars" to "very good" to "competent" to "don't go near that one".

There are VERY FEW "stars". So few that you cannot possibly skew the entire talent base into two buckets (stars, and also rans) as this article does. It's shortsighted and extremely damaging advice, especially for new programmers.

You also cannot hinge your business on hiring only stars - if you do, you're going to spend far too much time finding unicorns when you could be executing with a solid base of professionals. In no other industry have I seen this obsession with finding the "real coder" or the "rockstar developer".

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