> I'm curious why anyone would think programming is an essential life skill, considering how many successful people are alive today who cannot code. There was

> I'm curious why anyone would think programming is an essential life skill, considering how many successful people are alive today who cannot code. There was a time when you probably could have said the same thing about reading. I'm not talking about programming as a career. Much like reading and writing, you can have a career focused around it, but it has applications in non-technical careers. Many jobs have repetitive tasks. I've personally had jobs in my life where lots of aspects could be handled by scripts (although I didn't know how to write them at the time). Additionally, a lot of workplaces rely on Excel for key workflows that would be simpler and faster as programs. Computer literacy, much like writing, opens doors. The vast majority of people who learn how to write are never employed as professional writers. Additionally, like reading and writing, it can be a great source of pleasure. Much like the author, I make little games for my daughter to play on (https://letter-press.netlify.app/snek/ https://letter-press.netlify.app/snek/ for example). You can create art with code, or treat it as a puzzle solving exercise, or use it to modify your favorite games.