You've gotta have the right upbringing, brain, and interest for it. If you've been brought up in a dull, uncreative, unstimulating environment; are apathetic in life and don't enjoy learning new things; and simply is born with a brain that doesn't remember well, doesn't learn well, i.e. low cognition and memory...then yes, coding will be hard and boring to learn.
But I Iearnt Java and C++ in the early years of high school (Year 8 onwards, or for you american folks, uh, Grade, well I dunno your weird ass system so I was about 12yo), and it was great fun, actually one of the best things I ever chose to do. I was playing minecraft like the dweeb I was, and thought "wouldn't it be cool if I could make things like this and make mods for this!". So I went to my local library one day in the summer when I was bored, and picked up a book, Java for the Absolute Beginner, and I was hooked.
Now I can code in Java, C++, Python, HTML, etc., and still enjoy it.
Poor journalism on the article's front, writer clearly has no idea what they're talking about.
I know few guys who do C++ professionally and they are very afraid to say that they know C++, always some disclaimers, it's just a very difficult language.
Having HTML in the same sentence as Java, C++ or Python makes me believe that you may overestimate your coding abilities.
Do you code professionally (for money)?
I'm not attacking you personally, I just think that C++ is not something you can teach 12 year olds as you seem to be suggesting.
So everyone should just omit HTML from the list of their coding skills? Fun fact: Most people who go out of their way to point out how easy HTML is are actually really bad at it. I've seen way too many programmers who think they're too smart make static layouts with tables and use JavaScript everywhere for things that can easily be done with HTML/CSS.
C++ itself is not at all a difficult language (done this for 7 years) . but you need the discipline, to go for quality code and clean up what you allocated.
The reason why I prefer C# over C++ is because the compiler is way faster and there is Resharper that aids C# development. I can build projects way faster in C#.
You can technically survive, even in a first world country, without learning to read or write. So you could say that there's not really a reason to learn it. Same thing goes for programming.
I use my computer for record keeping, calendar, store pics, music and other files, surf the Internet, use the calculator and communicate. How would learning to code help me?
Well HTML and CSS is a very easy coding language to learn and can help a lot in your everyday dealings on the internet. Just like 0x5f3759df said it is more on pair with reading and writing in this day and age. Sometimes I need to download elements from a website for referencing. Knowing HTML and CSS makes it so much easier; as I just have to look through the code to find the location of said content.
Don't get me wrong, I love to code and I make a living doing it but you can live a pretty fulfilling life without knowing to code. Only a very small percentage of people are programmers. Are you saying everyone else is just surviving?
The ability to write code to make computers work for you is incredible. The article is bullshit, and the estimates for the number of coders are way off. Eventually, either everyone will code to automate their jobs or, nobody will because there are no jobs to automate.
Ill try. Lets say theres something you do everyday the exact same way and it takes 30 minutes. If you can write a program to do that thing you just automated the process and freed up more time for other things
I can drive a car. Small trucks. I can refill petrol. But when it breaks, I throw my hands in the air and call someone. I won't be able to build a car either. If I'd ever want to change my car, I'd buy a new one or ask someone to make it work.
I see this similar to programming. Someone needs to be able to do this and it's a valuable skill because most people cannot program or not at the level e.g. to make a smartphone application. Those people can create other things. But it's not a required and basic skill like writing. Like repairing or building cars. Everyone uses cars. Few can repair them. Very can build one.
That being said, I foresee that being able to program even in small amounts helps someone a lot, and with more and more computers everywhere, it's getting better and more useful over time.
You should at least know how to read it, I think. But I work in a technological field and may be biased.
Having an understanding helps you gather evidence and know what is needed when trying to convince those haughty dev guys that yes, there is a bug and yes, they need to fix it.
And this is why everyone should have at least some basic training in programming. Not so that everyone can program, but so that those who can't will at least have some understanding of what goes into it, rather than "well I dunno what you do but it can't be that hard."
I've tutored university-level programming courses and in my experience there's a clear and definite gap between people who can learn to code and people who can't. And it's not just "how smart" they are - many people who can't code are highly intelligent, but nonetheless just aren't able to really 'grok' software.
I whole heartedly agree with this article, though I think education can solve it, just at a much more fun dental level. You see the same problem with real math and science. People don't seem to get the ability to work with complex systems from current education.
From my experience, a critical thinking and logical analysis are the most important parts of being a programmer, or working g with any other complex systems. The ability to break down systems and visualize complex relationships in the systems is a necessary skill. I was lucky enough to be part of a school program that taught me those things at an early age, and I've had great success in programming, math, etc. Without it though, regardless of intelligence, I would have fallen flat on my face. The answer is to incorporate these things into school's curriculums.
I'd say programming (and math) are considered difficult by large numbers of people because the "if this, then that" paradigm has so many pitfalls in real life that they can't bring themselves to trust them in math and programming.
I don't remember things well, so unfortunately, it is difficult for me to learn, but I enjoy developing and improving upon myself as I go. Like everyone says, you need to do the things you love and it won't be work at all. It'll be a hobby you get paid for. That's why, if you are learning to program. Start a project that you want to see happen. If it's web development and you have an idea for a website, build that website. The best thing you can do is fail faster. We learn from our failures and improve from them.
So is it really that easy to learn how to code and get these high paying jobs?
Reality is that even a small minority of developers get a high paying jobs. And the worst part is those that have a high paying job are probably not even the best developers. You won't get a high paying job if you are a good developer, you only get high paying job is you are good at politics.
32 comments
13 u/insert_name 20 Jan 2016 11:41
You've gotta have the right upbringing, brain, and interest for it. If you've been brought up in a dull, uncreative, unstimulating environment; are apathetic in life and don't enjoy learning new things; and simply is born with a brain that doesn't remember well, doesn't learn well, i.e. low cognition and memory...then yes, coding will be hard and boring to learn.
But I Iearnt Java and C++ in the early years of high school (Year 8 onwards, or for you american folks, uh, Grade, well I dunno your weird ass system so I was about 12yo), and it was great fun, actually one of the best things I ever chose to do. I was playing minecraft like the dweeb I was, and thought "wouldn't it be cool if I could make things like this and make mods for this!". So I went to my local library one day in the summer when I was bored, and picked up a book, Java for the Absolute Beginner, and I was hooked.
Now I can code in Java, C++, Python, HTML, etc., and still enjoy it.
Poor journalism on the article's front, writer clearly has no idea what they're talking about.
0 u/i_am_triggered 20 Jan 2016 18:19
I know few guys who do C++ professionally and they are very afraid to say that they know C++, always some disclaimers, it's just a very difficult language.
Having HTML in the same sentence as Java, C++ or Python makes me believe that you may overestimate your coding abilities.
Do you code professionally (for money)?
I'm not attacking you personally, I just think that C++ is not something you can teach 12 year olds as you seem to be suggesting.
0 u/Predator 20 Jan 2016 19:33
So everyone should just omit HTML from the list of their coding skills? Fun fact: Most people who go out of their way to point out how easy HTML is are actually really bad at it. I've seen way too many programmers who think they're too smart make static layouts with tables and use JavaScript everywhere for things that can easily be done with HTML/CSS.
1 u/i_am_triggered 20 Jan 2016 19:49
I think it makes sense, since html is not coding.
1 u/Predator 20 Jan 2016 20:04
It's not a programming language, but calling it "coding" is still correct.
2 u/insert_name 20 Jan 2016 20:28
C++ is easy, it's basically C and C# without the bullshit, and with aliases.
Also, HTML is pretty easy, it's very repetitive, especially the basics.
Also, Python is basically C++ but without a few brackets and some little changes here and there.
Also, I don't code for money. I didn't say I know them through and through professionally. I know them well enough to do some interesting stuff.
I think you overestimated my age to be fair.
Lastly, I did struggle. It took me years. But I enjoyed it and got the basics pretty quickly. Good author, good programming languae :)
0 u/roznak 24 Jan 2016 18:43
C++ itself is not at all a difficult language (done this for 7 years) . but you need the discipline, to go for quality code and clean up what you allocated.
The reason why I prefer C# over C++ is because the compiler is way faster and there is Resharper that aids C# development. I can build projects way faster in C#.
6 u/deltasly 20 Jan 2016 16:24
Thank you! I'm sick of every jackass who has made a "hello world" calling themself a programmer.
Lots of folks can code, few folks do it well (and that's how you get gaping security holes).
5 u/Maxcactus 20 Jan 2016 12:56
I have been using computers as a tool since the early 1970's and never learned to code. Is here a reason for an average person to learn coding?
-1 u/0x5f3759df 20 Jan 2016 13:03
Yes. In the modern world, it's about as basic a skill as writing.
4 u/Maxcactus 20 Jan 2016 13:04
Can you elaborate?
-1 u/0x5f3759df 20 Jan 2016 13:07
You can technically survive, even in a first world country, without learning to read or write. So you could say that there's not really a reason to learn it. Same thing goes for programming.
2 u/Maxcactus 20 Jan 2016 13:10
I use my computer for record keeping, calendar, store pics, music and other files, surf the Internet, use the calculator and communicate. How would learning to code help me?
0 u/What_was_that_2 20 Jan 2016 14:14
Well HTML and CSS is a very easy coding language to learn and can help a lot in your everyday dealings on the internet. Just like 0x5f3759df said it is more on pair with reading and writing in this day and age. Sometimes I need to download elements from a website for referencing. Knowing HTML and CSS makes it so much easier; as I just have to look through the code to find the location of said content.
1 u/ThinPerson 20 Jan 2016 14:43
Don't get me wrong, I love to code and I make a living doing it but you can live a pretty fulfilling life without knowing to code. Only a very small percentage of people are programmers. Are you saying everyone else is just surviving?
0 u/menstreusel 20 Jan 2016 14:18
The ability to write code to make computers work for you is incredible. The article is bullshit, and the estimates for the number of coders are way off. Eventually, either everyone will code to automate their jobs or, nobody will because there are no jobs to automate.
1 u/enjia2000 20 Jan 2016 16:32
Ill try. Lets say theres something you do everyday the exact same way and it takes 30 minutes. If you can write a program to do that thing you just automated the process and freed up more time for other things
1 u/hkubota 20 Jan 2016 14:23
I don't see that happening.
I can drive a car. Small trucks. I can refill petrol. But when it breaks, I throw my hands in the air and call someone. I won't be able to build a car either. If I'd ever want to change my car, I'd buy a new one or ask someone to make it work.
I see this similar to programming. Someone needs to be able to do this and it's a valuable skill because most people cannot program or not at the level e.g. to make a smartphone application. Those people can create other things. But it's not a required and basic skill like writing. Like repairing or building cars. Everyone uses cars. Few can repair them. Very can build one.
That being said, I foresee that being able to program even in small amounts helps someone a lot, and with more and more computers everywhere, it's getting better and more useful over time.
2 u/deltasly 20 Jan 2016 16:28
You should at least know how to read it, I think. But I work in a technological field and may be biased.
Having an understanding helps you gather evidence and know what is needed when trying to convince those haughty dev guys that yes, there is a bug and yes, they need to fix it.
4 u/WhiteRonin 20 Jan 2016 16:55
No there isn't. However, understanding the basic concepts could be useful -- just like knowing the percentages for the sexual association for peas.
0 u/roznak 24 Jan 2016 18:48
Being able to read code, that is definitely handy, but developing code that is not a requirement.
4 u/tame 20 Jan 2016 12:04
And this is why everyone should have at least some basic training in programming. Not so that everyone can program, but so that those who can't will at least have some understanding of what goes into it, rather than "well I dunno what you do but it can't be that hard."
I've tutored university-level programming courses and in my experience there's a clear and definite gap between people who can learn to code and people who can't. And it's not just "how smart" they are - many people who can't code are highly intelligent, but nonetheless just aren't able to really 'grok' software.
3 u/Ulluses 20 Jan 2016 14:48
Grew up an artist, now I'm a programmer dreaming of being a writer. Happiness is hard to find.
0 u/the_devils_lettuce 20 Jan 2016 19:48
You must be my clone - or maybe I'm yours?
0 u/Matter_and_Form 20 Jan 2016 12:47
I whole heartedly agree with this article, though I think education can solve it, just at a much more fun dental level. You see the same problem with real math and science. People don't seem to get the ability to work with complex systems from current education.
From my experience, a critical thinking and logical analysis are the most important parts of being a programmer, or working g with any other complex systems. The ability to break down systems and visualize complex relationships in the systems is a necessary skill. I was lucky enough to be part of a school program that taught me those things at an early age, and I've had great success in programming, math, etc. Without it though, regardless of intelligence, I would have fallen flat on my face. The answer is to incorporate these things into school's curriculums.
1 u/deltasly 20 Jan 2016 16:30
Yes, I definitely see a lack of critical and logical thinking in the younger folks at my job. Even the college educated ones.
It is sad.
0 u/xebes 20 Jan 2016 16:26
But I already think it's hard...
0 u/theoldguy 20 Jan 2016 17:35
I'd say programming (and math) are considered difficult by large numbers of people because the "if this, then that" paradigm has so many pitfalls in real life that they can't bring themselves to trust them in math and programming.
0 u/Codewow 21 Jan 2016 01:10
I don't remember things well, so unfortunately, it is difficult for me to learn, but I enjoy developing and improving upon myself as I go. Like everyone says, you need to do the things you love and it won't be work at all. It'll be a hobby you get paid for. That's why, if you are learning to program. Start a project that you want to see happen. If it's web development and you have an idea for a website, build that website. The best thing you can do is fail faster. We learn from our failures and improve from them.
0 u/roznak 24 Jan 2016 18:54
Reality is that even a small minority of developers get a high paying jobs. And the worst part is those that have a high paying job are probably not even the best developers. You won't get a high paying job if you are a good developer, you only get high paying job is you are good at politics.