> Programming is a new discipline. Maybe so, in a narrow sense of the word. But programming is a craft, and crafts have been around for a very long time, possi

> Programming is a new discipline. Maybe so, in a narrow sense of the word. But programming is a craft, and crafts have been around for a very long time, possibly for as old as homo sapiens (a definition of which is, the ability to make tools). Programming is more like woodworking/cabinetmaking than "engineering". Crafts used to be learned by hanging around masters for a long time ("companions" in France). It builds on experience much more than on theory. So yes, mentoring is probably a good way to do the same.