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Most programmers would be able to do usual plumbing stuff like connecting the sink or dishwasher to water pipes with almost no prior learning, just by looking h

Most programmers would be able to do usual plumbing stuff like connecting the sink or dishwasher to water pipes with almost no prior learning, just by looking how things are done, maybe asking a few basic questions at the plumbing supplies store, and reading the attached instructions. These things are no rocket-science really. Sure, an experienced plumber would do all of these things much faster and probably better, that's why we call them. But the barrier to entry is definitely much lower - that's a no-brainer to me.

Unklejoe 10y ago
While I agree that the barrier to entry is lower, I feel like you may be overestimating the average programmer’s “hands-on” abilities as well as the simplicity of being a plumber. Sure, most programmers have the problem solving skills to get the job done, but when it comes to actually doing it, things are sometimes different. In my own personal experience, only a small percentage of the programmers that I know (myself included) actually know how to turn a wrench, figuratively speaking. Another example is welding. I know how to weld, but I am not good at it. The only way I would get better is to keep practicing, which I never really have a chance to do since it’s not my day job. This is a slightly more extreme example than plumbing, but a similar concept. I would consider the usual plumbing stuff to be more along the lines of sweating copper pipes, using lead and oakum to connect cast iron sewage pipes, installing toilet flanges, etc... I feel like connecting a dishwasher is more along the lines of a handy man.
- hippich 10y ago
  I respectfully disagree. Alot of jobs plumbers do is that kind of easy jobs (just like most software devs are really writing CRUD apps.) Even redoing old plumbing in the house is super simple - soldering copper pipes with all the tools available is very straightforward. I will say the same about welding. After very little reading i was able to make my own tig welder and even modified it later to weld aluminium (which requires AC vs DC normally, and spark starter) This all information is readily available on internet if you know how to search for it. And that's what today's software developers are good at - finding quickly solution to something unknown.
ccallebs 10y ago
Perhaps for simple plumbing jobs (like the ones you mention). However, things are rarely so easy once you start actually working. Like with most things, being skilled at plumbing is being able to handle the edge cases. And trust me, plumbing is not fault tolerant. :)
- sk5t 10y ago
  Exactly - you start setting up, then discover a 100 year old shutoff valve, which then breaks off in your hand, or there's mercury in an old heating system, or water leaks appearing 10m away from the source... In both programming and plumbing there's no substitute for years of experience in learning how to handle uncooperative reality.
hippich 10y ago
Except that in plumbing industry we have artificial barriers in form of licensing. I wonder when time will come for similar barriers in software development.

Unklejoe 10y ago

While I agree that the barrier to entry is lower, I feel like you may be overestimating the average programmer’s “hands-on” abilities as well as the simplicity of being a plumber. Sure, most programmers have the problem solving skills to get the job done, but when it comes to actually doing it, things are sometimes different. In my own personal experience, only a small percentage of the programmers that I know (myself included) actually know how to turn a wrench, figuratively speaking. Another example is welding. I know how to weld, but I am not good at it. The only way I would get better is to keep practicing, which I never really have a chance to do since it’s not my day job. This is a slightly more extreme example than plumbing, but a similar concept. I would consider the usual plumbing stuff to be more along the lines of sweating copper pipes, using lead and oakum to connect cast iron sewage pipes, installing toilet flanges, etc... I feel like connecting a dishwasher is more along the lines of a handy man.

hippich 10y ago
I respectfully disagree. Alot of jobs plumbers do is that kind of easy jobs (just like most software devs are really writing CRUD apps.) Even redoing old plumbing in the house is super simple - soldering copper pipes with all the tools available is very straightforward. I will say the same about welding. After very little reading i was able to make my own tig welder and even modified it later to weld aluminium (which requires AC vs DC normally, and spark starter) This all information is readily available on internet if you know how to search for it. And that's what today's software developers are good at - finding quickly solution to something unknown.

ccallebs 10y ago

Perhaps for simple plumbing jobs (like the ones you mention). However, things are rarely so easy once you start actually working. Like with most things, being skilled at plumbing is being able to handle the edge cases. And trust me, plumbing is not fault tolerant. :)

sk5t 10y ago
Exactly - you start setting up, then discover a 100 year old shutoff valve, which then breaks off in your hand, or there's mercury in an old heating system, or water leaks appearing 10m away from the source... In both programming and plumbing there's no substitute for years of experience in learning how to handle uncooperative reality.

hippich 10y ago

Except that in plumbing industry we have artificial barriers in form of licensing. I wonder when time will come for similar barriers in software development.