[img]http:///wp-content/uploads/2016/10/codecode.jpg[/img]
There’s an idea that’s been gaining ground in the tech community lately: Everyone should learn to code. But here’s the problem with that idea: Coding is not the new literacy.

If you regularly pay attention to the cultural shenanigans of Silicon Valley, you’ve no doubt heard of the “Learn to Code” movement. Politicians, nonprofit organizations like Code.org and even former Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City have evangelized what they view as a necessary skill for tomorrow’s workforce.

There may be some truth to that, especially since the United States’ need for engineers shows no sign of slowing down.

But the picture is more complicated.

We live in an ultra-competitive world, with people turning to all sorts of methods to make ends meet. Selling coding as a ticket to economic salvation for the masses is dishonest.

Take coding bootcamps. Since the mainstream learned of the success of Silicon Valley software engineers, everyone wants to own a startup or become an engineer. HBO’s Silicon Valley paints a picture of late twenty-somethings spending their nights coding and smoking weed, all whilst making millions of dollars.

Don’t get me wrong; I do believe that engineering and programming are important skills. But only in the right context, and only for the type of person willing to put in the necessary blood, sweat and tears to succeed. The same could be said of many other skills. I would no more urge everyone to learn to program than I would urge everyone to learn to plumb.

Focusing on coding inflates the importance of finding the “right” method to solve a problem rather than the importance of understanding the problem.

Before we start working on a solution to a coding problem we must decide what the problem is — and if it’s truly a problem. If we let ourselves become fixated on how to solve a problem via code, regardless of if it is a programming problem or not, and lose sight of why, we gain nothing.

An excessive focus on coding ignores the current plight of existing developers.

Technology changes at a rapid pace in this industry.

Just a few years ago I was using Objective-C; now I code almost entirely in Swift. There are iOS developers applying for jobs right now who have never written a line of Objective-C. Swift is easier to learn, safer, uses modern development paradigms and is elegant in a way that Objective-C never was. The fact that new developers will never deal with Objective-C’s deficiencies is great, but it ignores the reality of the profession.

Don’t lose sight of reality while being charmed by our culture’s Silicon Valley romance.
Developers are expected to learn fast, with little guidance and little more incentive than the faint rattling of the pink-slip guillotine. One could argue that this is simply one of the costs of the trade. But if current developers are frustrated or falling behind — and there is evidence that shows this is the case — why encourage individuals to enter such an uncertain realm?

What happens to the person who spent night and day studying Objective-C only to be horrified by the Swift announcement at WWDC 2014? Do they keep coding in what is quickly becoming the language of lesser choice, or do they start again? If you’re a young twenty-something, this may pose little difficulty, but if you’re taking care of a family — with bills to pay and mouths to feed — the task becomes Herculean.

People in these situations confront all of this without a solid grasp of actual programming or engineering.

The line between learning to code and getting paid to program as a profession is not an easy line to cross.

http:///2016/10/16/coding-not-is-not-for-everyone

I like this. Would read later and critically analyze.

There is nothing that I fear more than this coding of a thing. Perhaps it's because I've not given it a trial. Mere looking at it makes me think of Kryptonian language sort of. I do ask myself, can I know this thing, people wey dey do it no get two heads o but perhaps one of these days sha.

A thought that has always stayed in my mind when I hear people say I want to learn to code. Yeah! Programming is an empowering skill to learn and its limitless but just like arts, its just not everyone that would be zealous enough to keep at it after years of making $0,000.

twosquare:
There is nothing that I fear more than this coding of a thing. Perhaps it's because I've not given it a trial. Mere looking at it makes me think of Kryptonian language sort of. I do ask myself, can I know this thing, people wey dey do it no get two heads o but perhaps one of these days sha.

If you truly have passion for it and wish to solve a problem in the techosystem , start learning . But don't do it because the big boys are banking hard.

I totally agree. Just like education isn't for everyone, coding isn't for everyone either.

Also, let's not forget - those in control of things are pushing science (STEM for short) for a particular reason - by limiting the left side of your brain (which is the creative side), they are eliminating those who would otherwise challenge the system. Rather, they want people who, like lab mice, will become automatons and robots, doing what the master says (right-brained people are more structured and less likely to buck the system).

Now, before you start arguing with me based on emotions as opposed to facts:

1) Look around you and notice in how many schools the arts are being pushed aside for STEM

2) Though this applies to the US, note that since we are studying based on the European educational system (and Americans, the white ones at least) have European ancestry, the following quote still applies from John Rockefeller, "I don't want a nation of thinkers. I want a nation of workers."

I know that my post is very deep and will most likely go against what most people (hopefully, you are not one of them) have been programmed to think. So again, I implore that if you must disagree with me, do so on a factual and not emotional basis.

yawatide:
I totally agree. Just like education isn't for everyone, coding isn't for everyone either.

Also, let's not forget - those in control of things are pushing science (STEM for short) for a particular reason - by limiting the left side of your brain (which is the creative side), they are eliminating those who would otherwise challenge the system. Rather, they want people who, like lab mice, will become automatons and robots, doing what the master says (right-brained people are more structured and less likely to buck the system).

Now, before you start arguing with me based on emotions as opposed to facts:

1) Look around you and notice in how many schools the arts are being pushed aside for STEM

2) Though this applies to the US, note that since we are studying based on the European educational system (and Americans, the white ones at least) have European ancestry, the following quote still applies from John Rockefeller, "I don't want a nation of thinkers. I want a nation of workers."

I know that my post is very deep and will most likely go against what most people (hopefully, you are not one of them) have been programmed to think. So again, I implore that if you must disagree with me, do so on a factual and not emotional basis.

@bolded , should we blame theme?Do you think any new programmer can actually challenge the conjugation of languages we already have , with many of them depreciating on daily basis. I mean it's just like being thought quadratics in MTH It is not possible for a secondary school pupil who just learnt that topic derive a totally unique theorem.