These slides makes it look like you have to be one type or the other. I'd suggest that the boy is an excellent candidate for the job and that you could help pro

These slides makes it look like you have to be one type or the other. I'd suggest that the boy is an excellent candidate for the job and that you could help provide him the lower level understanding that you would like your programmers to have. The key to me is how the candidates gain the understanding of whatever languages they use. Meaning, is programming something that they really enjoy and are learning on their own time and solving some of their own problems. Or, are they simply picking up programming to try to get a better paying career (aka the types of people that are often drawn to those 6 week learn to program type of schools). Therefore, for me and the interviews I have done in the past asking candidates about books they've read or programs they've worked on (for themselves or others outside of their employment) are often times much more enlightening.