As someone who did learn to program at the age of 12 (and is now 32) I don't think it matters. Programming is not that hard to learn - it's another language tha

As someone who did learn to program at the age of 12 (and is now 32) I don't think it matters. Programming is not that hard to learn - it's another language that is far more straightforward than trying to learn a spoken language that might have genderizations, weird grammar rules and so forth. The actual learning to program is not complicated. What is complicated, is the analytical mindset that makes a good programmer. I believe that the better programmers just have this mindset and it is what makes them good at what they do. Coupled with a passion for the technology they are using, this will make them better at what they are doing regardless if they have 2 months behind them, or 20 years behind them - and also regardless of the age they start at.