We are likely to use words like "common" and "substantially slower" somewhat differently, given the subjectivity of the terms. However: > With no/slowed adopti

We are likely to use words like "common" and "substantially slower" somewhat differently, given the subjectivity of the terms. However: > With no/slowed adoption of computers, it's not possible for programming to become more common than it is today. "Not possible"? That's false on the face of it. You appear to be making unwarranted assumptions about what is possible in the relationship between (a) the amount of 'computing' in today's world and (b) the number of people who program. The only non-cultural factor which really limits the possibility of coding is the availability of machines on which to program. I believe there were only around 20 million devs worldwide at the beginning of 2014. More PCs were shipped in the mid 80s in the US alone. It is absolutely possible that a world in which the GUI was never invented could have more coders coding than a world in which the GUI had been invented. And the reverse is also true, of course.