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Programming languages are not unique to programmers anymore, and not all users will ever become experts. These days, programming is being thought to more pupil

Programming languages are not unique to programmers anymore, and not all users will ever become experts. These days, programming is being thought to more pupils and students than ever, because languages like Python has made it very accessible and easy to learn. The fact that a non-CS/IT person who has never written a code in their lives, can learn the basics with languages like Python, and make tools which increases productivity in just mere weeks, is amazing. I know this, because I've witnessed it multiple times at work. That would almost certainly have never been the case, had we only had languages with steep learning curves. Imagine if someone wanted to make a web-scraper in C, and some program that act on the scraped data. In python, that's basically under 20 lines of code...in C? Most likely hundreds.

dgb23 5y ago
I fully agree with this. I think we're in the middle of a paradigm shift in regards to programming as more and more people enter the field or use programming as an auxiliary skill. Like with writing/reading and math there was a time where only experts would do these things. There is still quite a substantial difference between a seasoned literary scholar and the average person, but many have access to this skill now and the fundamentals have become normal. With programming I assume the same will happen. The fundamentals are simple and there are many ways, technological and cultural, to learn and use this skill. Here's a list of programming types: Web development, systems programming, game engines, data analysis, application/UI scripting, scientific computing, spreadsheets... I think we have to acknowledge and welcome this change and the people who will newly access this beautiful craft, while at the same time being mindful about what that means for professional identity and assumptions around that issue.

dgb23 5y ago

I fully agree with this. I think we're in the middle of a paradigm shift in regards to programming as more and more people enter the field or use programming as an auxiliary skill. Like with writing/reading and math there was a time where only experts would do these things. There is still quite a substantial difference between a seasoned literary scholar and the average person, but many have access to this skill now and the fundamentals have become normal. With programming I assume the same will happen. The fundamentals are simple and there are many ways, technological and cultural, to learn and use this skill. Here's a list of programming types: Web development, systems programming, game engines, data analysis, application/UI scripting, scientific computing, spreadsheets... I think we have to acknowledge and welcome this change and the people who will newly access this beautiful craft, while at the same time being mindful about what that means for professional identity and assumptions around that issue.