Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
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Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
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Re: Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
#2Yes and no - challenge: how would the people manning the checkout counter at my local supermarket benefit from being able to program?
Not that supermarkets couldn't be improved by programming, but the people manning the checkouts are hardly in the position to do so?
Granted, there might be other aspects of their lives that they might be able to enhance.
Re: Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
#3Yes and no - challenge: how would the people manning the checkout counter at my local supermarket benefit from being able to program? Not that supermarkets couldn't be improved by programming, but the people manning the checkouts are hardly in the position to do so? Granted, there might be other aspects of their lives that they might be able to enhance.
And how likely is it, that this job will still exist in a few years?
Granted, there will always be service jobs, where physical presence and a polite smile is all that is required. But I don't see that checkout counters belong to those.
Re: Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
#4From the article:
"* 1) I could email all the staff and ask them to email me the data every month and compile it manually.
2) Find some software that would allow me to do this relatively easily.
3)Program a solution myself that is perfectly tailored to the process."
He choose 3) but what about
4) Get a even better result by bringing in a professional. For instance a contracter.*
?
Still, great that he learned programming. I personally find it perfectly OK, that almost "[...] EVERY interface you employ on a day to day basis is likely created by someone else. "
As long as I believe that I,
a) understand the key processes that are involved creating it. b) have the tools and knowledge available to recreate or adapt it if I need to.
Of course, this does NOT mean, that I would likely design my own CPU [1]. But I would e.g. feel comfortable building my own, individualized, laptop [2], if I really had to.
Being able to do things by yourself makes you independent. But having almost everything done by someone else is progress.
[1] It would be nice to have state of the art open micro chips. But, imho, as long as the manufacturing process is as large scale and costly as it is, a free CPU design would be quite useless. [2] Similar to how a company like Acer does. I 'just' select all the hardware components I need, a free OS and design my own case.
Re: Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
#5Yes and no - challenge: how would the people manning the checkout counter at my local supermarket benefit from being able to program? Not that supermarkets couldn't be improved by programming, but the people manning the checkouts are hardly in the position to do so? Granted, there might be other aspects of their lives that they might be able to enhance.
And how likely is it, that this job will still exist in a few years? Granted, there will always be service jobs, where physical presence and a polite smile is all that is required. But I don't see that checkout counters belong to those.
The big box store retailers have been trying for years to get computerized checkout systems to work. They're clunky, slow, and while they require perhaps a quarter the amount of staff to run, the ones in my local big box store seem to break down frequently.
Re: Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
#6Earlier quoted context omitted.
And how likely is it, that this job will still exist in a few years? Granted, there will always be service jobs, where physical presence and a polite smile is all that is required. But I don't see that checkout counters belong to those.
The big box store retailers have been trying for years to get computerized checkout systems to work. They're clunky, slow, and while they require perhaps a quarter the amount of staff to run, the ones in my local big box store seem to break down frequently.
Sounds like a potential startup. :) If you could build a better one (which shouldn't be that hard if they're so bad, right?) you could dominate!
I like it when they have both, since sometimes I want a checker and bagger, especially if I have a bunch of stuff. Other times I just want to get in and out and the machine is consistently faster than checker + line.
Of course, the real issue is that lines are good for businesses. They keep the customer in the store longer, with more opportunity to spontaneously buy all that shiny stuff near or at the checkout stands... WalMart has like 10 self-checkout machines but every time I've been there they've had most or all of them turned off. I don't think it's because all of them had errors.
Re: Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
#7From the article: "* 1) I could email all the staff and ask them to email me the data every month and compile it manually. 2) Find some software that would allow me to do this relatively easily. 3)Program a solution myself that is perfectly tailored to the process. " He choose 3) but what about 4) Get a even better result by bringing in a professional. For instance a contracter.* ? Still, great that he learned progra…
Well I can give you some insight into the difficulty of 4 - in my particular circumstance...
Assuming I can convince my boss that the task requires a professional... she then has to take it to the admin leaders committee and pitch it to the head of school. The head of school might make an executive decision on it, but more likely he will take it to the PR committee to discuss if hard to come by funds are worth spending on it. Questions will be asked as to why this can't be delegated to the university tech folk. Arguments have to be made. Our finance guy then has to find the funds. More discussions...
As to your other point. I agree entirely that deference to existing solutions is always preferable - IF those solutions meet your desires. But I would stress the following two points:
1) I see people engaged in manual administrative tasks on daily basis that they could work to automate to a large degree. There are no existing solutions to them. These processes are often idiosyncratic - and there is no wider market for an automated solution. However, such a solution would do wonders for those having to carry out those processes.
2) I said that existing solutions that meet your desires are always preferable... but what if your desires are constrained by the interfaces with which you have been bequeathed? We have this Cartesian understanding of self wherein everything about US is thought to spring forth from an irreducible, internal essence. But desires are contextually determined to a very large degree. My larger point is that an ability to create your own interfaces might just liberate your desires in ways that are difficult to imagine for people who don't have such skills.
The latter point is at least an interesting empirical hypothesis that deserves some thought...
Re: Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
#8Sure, and everyone should learn to cook too. You don't have to want to be a professional chef in order to use the skill. That's all he's saying.
Re: Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
The big box store retailers have been trying for years to get computerized checkout systems to work. They're clunky, slow, and while they require perhaps a quarter the amount of staff to run, the ones in my local big box store seem to break down frequently.
Sounds like a potential startup. :) If you could build a better one (which shouldn't be that hard if they're so bad, right?) you could dominate! I like it when they have both, since sometimes I want a checker and bagger, especially if I have a bunch of stuff. Other times I just want to get in and out and the machine is consistently faster than checker + line. Of course, the real issue is that lines are good for busin…
There's serious barriers to entry, probably a legal maze to navigate, and then convincing the big box stores that their current system sucks. Worse is better, right?
Re: Why Everyone Should Learn to Program
#10Sure, and everyone should learn to cook too. You don't have to want to be a professional chef in order to use the skill. That's all he's saying.
This is the Hacker Mindset: If you realize something is lacking, invest some time to learn the basics about it. More often than not, the basics will be enough to improve you workflow dramatically.
And besides, it will grant you the insight necessary to make informed decisions about how to specialize.
Pity those who never investigate and always bow before 'I can't do it', without even having tried. Without a desire to know, nothing can be achieved.