4 ms·

While I generally agree with the point that teaching problem solving is valuable in itself, my life would be far different if I didn't know how to write code. I

While I generally agree with the point that teaching problem solving is valuable in itself, my life would be far different if I didn't know how to write code. I have a number of friends that are exceptionally good at problem solving, yet they're struggling in dead end jobs that don't pay enough. Software engineering, while certainly frustrating and occasionally tiresome, has given me the financial flexibility to do more or less whatever I want in my off hours. Hell, it's given me the flexibility to even have "off hours". Programming isn't for everyone, but it's certainly not a bad thing to have at least a little experience with.

toomuchtodo 8y ago
I have made more money in my lifetime with Excel than I ever have with code. Datapoint of one.
- cweagans 8y ago
  It's certainly not the only way to make lots of money, but it's a way.
JKCalhoun 8y ago
The article was specifically about young children, young minds. The author seems to allow that when children grow up, they're free to learn to code then.
- cweagans 8y ago
  shrug I learned to code very young and played with it off and on throughout my school career. If I hadn't done that, I don't know that I would have chosen software engineering as a profession.
  - kiriakasis 8y ago
    I don't know your life but I suspect that more than programming you leaned "advanced use of computers". I both believe that this is really valuable and that "just programming" non a good subject for kids. By this I mean that if you learn how to do some small game and animation in a simple graphical environment you learn neither to program nor how to use a complex and rich tool. It is a typical story in programming courses, as far as I know, there are those who have a lot of experience, some experience and no experience; those with some programming experience are the most likely to fail know just enough to be bored by the introduction and not enough to avoid the mistakes.
    - cweagans 8y ago
      My dad was a software engineer and I was a very curious kid - if there was an opportunity to learn something, I was on board. Didn't matter what it was - computers, rockets, cooking, pool maintenance, etc. Learning "advanced use of computers" came along with it, but specifically, I learned VB6 pretty thoroughly when I was 10. I also had a copy of some version of RPG Maker that could use Ruby for the in-game scripts. Building games in an environment like that -- even if it only requires a little bit of programming -- is still a great way to get children to sit down and focus on solving a problem.

toomuchtodo 8y ago

I have made more money in my lifetime with Excel than I ever have with code. Datapoint of one.

cweagans 8y ago
It's certainly not the only way to make lots of money, but it's a way.

JKCalhoun 8y ago

The article was specifically about young children, young minds. The author seems to allow that when children grow up, they're free to learn to code then.

cweagans 8y ago
shrug I learned to code very young and played with it off and on throughout my school career. If I hadn't done that, I don't know that I would have chosen software engineering as a profession.
- kiriakasis 8y ago
  I don't know your life but I suspect that more than programming you leaned "advanced use of computers". I both believe that this is really valuable and that "just programming" non a good subject for kids. By this I mean that if you learn how to do some small game and animation in a simple graphical environment you learn neither to program nor how to use a complex and rich tool. It is a typical story in programming courses, as far as I know, there are those who have a lot of experience, some experience and no experience; those with some programming experience are the most likely to fail know just enough to be bored by the introduction and not enough to avoid the mistakes.
  - cweagans 8y ago
    My dad was a software engineer and I was a very curious kid - if there was an opportunity to learn something, I was on board. Didn't matter what it was - computers, rockets, cooking, pool maintenance, etc. Learning "advanced use of computers" came along with it, but specifically, I learned VB6 pretty thoroughly when I was 10. I also had a copy of some version of RPG Maker that could use Ruby for the in-game scripts. Building games in an environment like that -- even if it only requires a little bit of programming -- is still a great way to get children to sit down and focus on solving a problem.