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This is nuts. Only a small percentage of people can learn to effectively generate code. Thinking that veterans can be turned into developers is absurd - they'll

This is nuts. Only a small percentage of people can learn to effectively generate code. Thinking that veterans can be turned into developers is absurd - they'll get code-monkeys instead, with a few exceptions. I don't believe that, at this time in the USA or in the future, education will save people in software development from unemployment. The only thing that will do that is having some smarts. And if you're smart, you already know what to do (for you). One of those things to do is head _away_ from software development if you're a noobie. At this time there are more developers worldwide than ever before, work continues to be offshored and developer wages are declining in the USA. You'd almost have to be insane to try to get a job writing code.

lithos 10y ago
I haven't seen a Nuke fail to learn to program enough to get stuff done, and the two that stuck with it were annoyed when they realized they were going faster by staying off the internet. (Though this is learning for a hobby). They're going to also do better in a tech interview than most programmers. Mostly because they've survived a program where they have a half dozen or so knowledge interviews a year (that to me were more stressful than my actual job interviews). Though most rates don't remotely compare to nukes, and nukes have more sure ways of getting SV like pay than tossing in with IT developers.
- giardini 10y ago
  But US Navy nuclear power school grads ("Nukes") are not typical veterans. I should know, I've been lucky enough to have had several as bosses and co-workers. They were first-rate and far too valuable to use as software developers. Their knowledge of naval matters was much more important.
metaphorm 10y ago
> they'll get code-monkeys instead, with a few exceptions. that's an expected outcome of most courses to teach programming. some will excel and others will merely pass. I think that's ok as far as outcome expectations go. what concerns me more is the prevailing attitude among policy-makers that "tech jobs" is a magical panacea for all working class woes.

lithos 10y ago

I haven't seen a Nuke fail to learn to program enough to get stuff done, and the two that stuck with it were annoyed when they realized they were going faster by staying off the internet. (Though this is learning for a hobby). They're going to also do better in a tech interview than most programmers. Mostly because they've survived a program where they have a half dozen or so knowledge interviews a year (that to me were more stressful than my actual job interviews). Though most rates don't remotely compare to nukes, and nukes have more sure ways of getting SV like pay than tossing in with IT developers.

giardini 10y ago
But US Navy nuclear power school grads ("Nukes") are not typical veterans. I should know, I've been lucky enough to have had several as bosses and co-workers. They were first-rate and far too valuable to use as software developers. Their knowledge of naval matters was much more important.

metaphorm 10y ago

> they'll get code-monkeys instead, with a few exceptions. that's an expected outcome of most courses to teach programming. some will excel and others will merely pass. I think that's ok as far as outcome expectations go. what concerns me more is the prevailing attitude among policy-makers that "tech jobs" is a magical panacea for all working class woes.