I buy it. I don't think we'll all be sitting down in front of a C compiler, but I think a lot of people will spend their days configuring software to do things

I buy it. I don't think we'll all be sitting down in front of a C compiler, but I think a lot of people will spend their days configuring software to do things that it is not pre-programmed to do, using logic that is in line with the programmer mindset. I like to look to agriculture, because computers are becoming quite prevalent in the industry and is a good indication of where the technology is headed in all industries that have not been traditionally computer dominated. The modern tractors are doing a lot of automation that is programmed by the farmer, depending on their own requirements. Like: "When the tractor gets to this position in the field, raise the implement. Lower it when it gets to _this_ position." That is programming. I do agree we are a long way off from having general purpose robots, but we already do have robots everywhere we look. These agricultural tractors I speak of are robots that are being programmed, not operated, by farmers. That is just one of many examples.