Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
1–10 of 41 posts
Re: Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
#2I'm having trouble understanding what "learn to code" means for most people. It's almost obnoxious when business types propose "learning to code" in a nonchalant manner as though people don't spend decades developing their programming skills. Yes, you may take codecademy tutorials and have a slight understanding of js syntax...but I wouldn't expect you to build anything of value.
Re: Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
#3I'm having trouble understanding what "learn to code" means for most people. It's almost obnoxious when business types propose "learning to code" in a nonchalant manner as though people don't spend decades developing their programming skills. Yes, you may take codecademy tutorials and have a slight understanding of js syntax...but I wouldn't expect you to build anything of value.
Do you feel the same way about learning to speak foreign languages and play musical instruments? Is it obnoxious for a person to teach introductory French night classes, when fluency will take years and may never be possible for the students given their other commitments? What if it is not even likely that they will ever have French-language conversations "of value"? Does the very act of proposing learning this new skill insult French speakers everywhere?
I keep encountering this attitude among programmers, that the idea of "learning" is something that is the completion of a journey of worthiness. It's extremely disappointing.
Re: Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
#4I'm having trouble understanding what "learn to code" means for most people. It's almost obnoxious when business types propose "learning to code" in a nonchalant manner as though people don't spend decades developing their programming skills. Yes, you may take codecademy tutorials and have a slight understanding of js syntax...but I wouldn't expect you to build anything of value.
I've been hearing this argument a lot lately. Are you suggesting that if I wanted to learn to code it would take me decades to be able to build anything of value? To me learning to code is just like learning any other skill. Sure you wont be good at it the first few months you start but that is what practice is for. I don't see why in a year or two you wouldn't be able to build something of value. If it really took 10 years to be able to build anything useful I doubt there would be that many coders. I can't really think of any skill that takes 10 years to become good at.
Re: Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
#5I'm having trouble understanding what "learn to code" means for most people. It's almost obnoxious when business types propose "learning to code" in a nonchalant manner as though people don't spend decades developing their programming skills. Yes, you may take codecademy tutorials and have a slight understanding of js syntax...but I wouldn't expect you to build anything of value.
Do you feel the same way about learning to speak foreign languages and play musical instruments? Is it obnoxious for a person to teach introductory French night classes, when fluency will take years and may never be possible for the students given their other commitments? What if it is not even likely that they will ever have French-language conversations "of value"? Does the very act of proposing learning this new s…
Exactly. I don't know why I've been hearing this so much lately. I've been researching about learning to use 3D software (3dsmax) and I get the same responses that I hear about learning to code: "oh it is very difficult and it will takes at least 5-10 years to be able to build anything of quality" Personally, I think if it takes you 10 years to become decent at anything, then you are doing it wrong.
Re: Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
#6I'm having trouble understanding what "learn to code" means for most people. It's almost obnoxious when business types propose "learning to code" in a nonchalant manner as though people don't spend decades developing their programming skills. Yes, you may take codecademy tutorials and have a slight understanding of js syntax...but I wouldn't expect you to build anything of value.
It seems unlikely to me that the business types will do much serious programming; after all that's not what job is. I suspect the real value of this will be improved communication on technical subjects. It's much easier to work with someone (like an engineer) when you have a common baseline and can appreciate the work they're doing. It's also a fantastic learning opportunity for the engineers, since teaching/mentoring people on a topic is one of the best ways to improve your knowledge of it.
Re: Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you feel the same way about learning to speak foreign languages and play musical instruments? Is it obnoxious for a person to teach introductory French night classes, when fluency will take years and may never be possible for the students given their other commitments? What if it is not even likely that they will ever have French-language conversations "of value"? Does the very act of proposing learning this new s…
Exactly. I don't know why I've been hearing this so much lately. I've been researching about learning to use 3D software (3dsmax) and I get the same responses that I hear about learning to code: "oh it is very difficult and it will takes at least 5-10 years to be able to build anything of quality" Personally, I think if it takes you 10 years to become decent at anything, then you are doing it wrong.
2-5 years with 3ds should definitely put you in the "decent" category.
There is a big difference between being "decent" at something and truly knowing it as "an extension of self". Expertise is a real thing.
Re: Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you feel the same way about learning to speak foreign languages and play musical instruments? Is it obnoxious for a person to teach introductory French night classes, when fluency will take years and may never be possible for the students given their other commitments? What if it is not even likely that they will ever have French-language conversations "of value"? Does the very act of proposing learning this new s…
Exactly. I don't know why I've been hearing this so much lately. I've been researching about learning to use 3D software (3dsmax) and I get the same responses that I hear about learning to code: "oh it is very difficult and it will takes at least 5-10 years to be able to build anything of quality" Personally, I think if it takes you 10 years to become decent at anything, then you are doing it wrong.
If you find the 10 year rule absurd, take a look at this paper:
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/freakonomics/pdf/D...
Re: Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
#9I'm having trouble understanding what "learn to code" means for most people. It's almost obnoxious when business types propose "learning to code" in a nonchalant manner as though people don't spend decades developing their programming skills. Yes, you may take codecademy tutorials and have a slight understanding of js syntax...but I wouldn't expect you to build anything of value.
Conversely, what better way for a non-coder to show genuine appreciation for a technical individuals talents, than by showing that he/she is an engaged student of their craft?
I'm a non-technical co-founder, but I'm learning to code. Along with all the other obvious advantages already shared in this thread, there is an intangible benefit that my technical co-founder appreciates.
It's hard to measure, but my interest in coding communicates a deep level of respect for him and his contributions. Contrast this with the classic "Whartonite Seeks Code Monkey" type. Which type do you want to work with?
Learning to code should be celebrated and encouraged. Nobody loses.
Re: Why one company is making all its employees learn how to code
#10I'm really uncomfortable with the term 'learning to code', because when I read it makes me think that the company wants its employees to know in what circumstances you should and shouldn't use semicolons in Javascript, or what methods are available to strings in Python.
I don't think those things are useful unless you're actually writing code.
What is useful is understanding how software (and, for a lot of people, web software in particular) fits together. That means understanding what might make something computationally expensive, or understanding the advantages/disadvantages of loosely coupled components (etc etc).
This isn't to say that people 'learning to code' isn't a step in the right direction, but I don't think it's an end in itself, and for most people, writing code is only a doorway to that understanding if they have the time to take on projects that involve those problems.
What we need isn't lots of people who can do 'hello world'. It is people who are technologically literate. That needs to be the focus and goal.