17 ms·

Zuck, Bill Gates, Jack Dorsey In Short Film To Inspire Kids To Learn How To Code

441 points by aashaykumar92 14y ago

onedev 14y ago
I think the video was great and people are over analyzing it. The following is what I got out of the video because I didn't over-analyze it like most people are doing: (1) Everyone should be introduced to computer programming. Keyword here is introduced. Just like kids are introduced to Art, English, Biology, Sports, etc. Many middle and high schools are simply ignoring technology for the most part despite it's growing relevance in our lives and that is what this video is trying to point out. (2) A career in software engineering isn't necessarily the cubicle dwelling, loner, boring stigma that most uniformed people associate with it. They're showing that it can be a very fun and impactful environment like at Valve, Facebook, and Dropbox (noting the free food, laundry, etc) (3) You potentially have the opportunity to affect many people in very positive ways through the software that you develop. (4) EVEN if you don't pursue a career in programming, it can help you understand its implications in many OTHER seemingly unrelated fields. And it will help you develop critical thinking skills. (5) It can be a learned skill like any other and there's no need to be intimidated by it. All of those are very noble intentions in my opinion and valid concerns to address to the general perception of programming as well as computer education at early stages to develop interest in people that otherwise wouldn't have known about it.
selectout 14y ago
Loved seeing them bring in celebrities outside of the tech world to share their experiences/passions for code. Chris Bosh was a complete surprise to me but made me like him even more.
- Nemisis7654 14y ago
  I agree. Not many young people know who Gabe Newell or Drew Houston is. But seeing big names like that that younger people are familiar with could lead to more interest in coding. Great video.
  - grapjas 14y ago
    Or compare the public reaction of the death of Steve Jobs vs. the death of David Ritchie
    - sreyaNotfilc 14y ago
      You mean Dennis Ritchie... BTW, I posted news about his death (I heard of it a week after he died, go figure) on facebook. Its sad that one person replied with RIP Mr. Ritchie and a "like". I was pleased though. That's the way the world turns.
      - zwegner 14y ago
        Yep, same with John McCarthy, who died around the same time.
    - tlrobinson 14y ago
      The irony of you getting Dennis Ritchie's name wrong is strong...
- foryoublue 14y ago
  LETS GO HEAT!!!!!!! Miami #1, Golden State, Knicks, Nets, Lakers can't stop the HEAT!
- the_cat_kittles 14y ago
  If he became a more vocal advocate for coding education, he could have an incredibly huge impact since basketball has such a big international fan base. Not to mention he is just a cool dude!
michaelochurch 14y ago
The gap between CS majors and software jobs is misleading. You don't need a CS degree to become a decent programmer. Still, if there's such a shortage of good programmers (and I agree that there probably is) then why aren't we playing this to our advantage? A senior engineer can't afford a house in the Bay Area or New York, and our status is low-- we still work for managers; we're a defeated tribe in this way. Most of us don't have the autonomy to choose our tools or decide whether to use or replace old legacy code. Shouldn't our top priority, as a tribe, be to change this? We should make programmer autonomy our major issue. http://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/programmer-autonomy-is-a-1-trillion-issue/ http://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/programmer-au... This will benefit us and the economy as a whole. Then, after we've had this victory, we can work on increasing the total number of programmers.
- nbashaw 14y ago
  How in any way would this benefit the economy as a whole?
  - anonymfus 14y ago
    Expensive labour provides incentives to automate it.
    - throwawayG9 14y ago
      So? It can't be done, so forget about that. Just like you can't replace the executives.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - michaelochurch 14y ago
    First, the shortage of good programmers has more to do with the scarcity of high-quality work than a lack of access to knowledge. More autonomy for programmers means more high-quality work is done, which generates higher returns already but also means that programmers improve. Second, if programmers take the decision-making roles back from smooth-talking executives, that means that smarter and more competent people will be calling the shots and society will run more efficiently.
steveinator 14y ago
I really wish people didn't spread this kind of message. Think job security guys! Come on!
- klepra 14y ago
  That is wrong attitude.
  - 11001 14y ago
    Honest question - why? How getting more people into automation business will benefit people who are in it now (us), or the economy (arguably automation makes jobs and whole industries redundant). I am all for encouraging people to study science and mathematics, but I don't understand the value of getting more people to just "code".
    - klepra 14y ago
      People should be educated enough to know what they can expect from a computer - by learning coding they would get a deeper view into those things - not everyone would become a professional coder. And even then, every good professional create even more jobs - you can't do everything by yourself even if you know how too. Also it is for greater good - I think it is a step to happier society with more decent life.
    - Dove 14y ago
      Large, skilled populations bring great advances. In a world with hundreds of programmers, you get FORTRAN and specialized computers solving defense problems. In a world with hundreds of thousands, you get everything from smartphones and video games to industrial robots. I'm not worried about job security. But I am excited about what armies of coders can invent.
- devonbarrett 14y ago
  Most of these people would not become developers. But think of the benefits if everyone had a brief exposure to how a computer works, or a realistic view of it should/can do. It may even cause everyone to regularly update their browsers as they now see the importance of it - we may even see the death of IE ;)
greghinch 14y ago
It seems silly to me that a basic computer science ciriculum isn't being added to high school or before. In the same way you have to take basic biology, chemistry, and physics, a modern student needs at least a fundamental exposure to the basics of computing
- CodeCube 14y ago
  I wholly agree with you, though I will expand it by saying that I hope they bring back some of the other vocational classes as well (woodshop, metalshop, etc). While I can't wait to see what new generations of programmers will bring us, we need craftsmen, mechanics, welders and other vocational professions just as much to help us with our physical infrastructure. Basically, everything Mike Rowe says here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NwEFVUb-u0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NwEFVUb-u0
lenazegher 14y ago
I've heard lot of people say that the best way to learn to code is to set out to solve a problem you're having. I wonder if the global trend towards open solutions for problems will discourage people learning to code. I've been using computers for perhaps 15 years and I've only ever skirted around the edges of coding. I've learned a little regex and a tiny bit of bash scripting and I know how to edit a little php to get Wordpress to do what I want it to, but that's as much as I've needed to solve every computing problem I've encountered. Wordpress is a pretty good example: there's now such a rich ecosystem of themes, plugins and hacks that you can get it to do some pretty amazing things without needing to actually write any code yourself.
- warp 14y ago
  Then you're thinking too small. Solve non-computing problems you're having! :)
adventured 14y ago
I was fortunate enough that the public elementary school I went to, had a full computer lab (in 1985); the public middle school and high school also did. And this was in a very poor part of the country. There's little question every school in America should have that; if my poor public schools were able to make it happen, anybody can. I learned basic programming in middle school (turbo pascal!) and high school courtesy of those opportunities. I plan to give back throughout the rest of my life, to the education system I came from. If even one or two people per school did that, it would make a huge difference.
lifeisstillgood 14y ago
FOr me the reasoning is simple: * reading and writing code is basic literacy for the information age * One generation hence, any company that is literate (almost all employees write code, the use of code runs through all its processes) will have enormous competitve advantages. Or rather any company that is illiterate will have enormous competitive disadvantages * So Software will eat the world. * but in the process from here to there, developers will take over more and more - moving from the "typing pool" into all of the company. * this is unlikely to be a fixed supply of coders getting more % of revenue, and more like everyone learns to code and then usual political fighting resumes.
- rimantas 14y ago
  > reading and writing code is basic literacy for the > information age No. Just like everyone being a car mechanic is not the basic literacy of the automotive age. "Everyone learns to code" is a pipe dream.
  - lifeisstillgood 14y ago
    But everyone learning to drive is / was. Being a car driver is python coding. Being a car mechanic is probably on the order of writing a compiler. The analogies will always break down but really, in this day and age, an adult in the Western world who cannot drive is socially and econmoically disadvantaged. (chooses not to is likely a different thing - for half of 20 years in London I had no car and biked / tubed everywhere. Now, my day would be impossible without a car. Sad but true) I mean how many 17 year-olds do you know who say, "Learning to drive - who needs it?"
    - k-mcgrady 14y ago
      >> "But everyone learning to drive is / was. Being a car driver is python coding. Being a car mechanic is probably on the order of writing a compiler." I think being a car driver is more equal to being a competent computer user not a python programmer.
      - 14y ago
stevenameyer 14y ago
I think programming really needs to be added to public school curriculums. Not just because there is a lot of job opportunities for people with the skill set, but also because I personally believe it is one of the best vehicles for learning critical thinking skills, problem solving and computer literacy. All skills that are very useful in todays day and age regardless of wether you end up ever writing a line of code outside of school.
klepra 14y ago
I think these days is relatevely easy to get basics down with sites like codecademy, codeschool, teamtreehouse and such. At least in web developement. You can get the idea how it all works, how to do simple stuff. To me, the biggest challenge is to get bigger picture of technology I am using -> once I understand that learning is much faster.
kayoone 14y ago
I get the message and it certainly makes sense for alot of people to be able to code, but on the other hand i know so many (also smart) people that hate any job that would involve using a computer for more than communication. Not everyone wants to sit in front of a screen all day, and imo thats a good thing.
- danso 14y ago
  Not everyone wants to sit and read or do calculations, but it's still important to have a basic grasp of literacy and numbers. Currently, there is not a basic grasp of digital literacy. I don't think everyone should know, off the top of their head, how to compile a script. But if people understood the idea of patterns in text and repeatable tasks (i.e. for loops), that could be very helpful, especially to professional developers who can make use of structured, well planned information.
- pawelwentpawel 14y ago
  But most of the people do anyway. Majority of office jobs involve sitting in front of the screen through the whole day. Having some basic programming skills and general knowledge of "what is happening under the hood" would make many people's work much easier but we can't expect them to suddenly become developers just because it's cool and useful. However, most of them don't even realize how useful knowing at least one scripting programming language can be. What sit in front of the screen through the whole day if with little effort you can automate some areas of your work.
- paranoiacblack 14y ago
  Well, you have to consider that this is due to their exposure to computers in the past. Common users often see computers as this buggy device that sometimes feeds them their emails or allows them to catch up with friends on facebook. Others familiarize it with a tool that makes people antisocial or destroys interpersonal communication because of all of the possible distractions. And even then others think that computers can only do what they make them do on the job and they hate their job. I'd imagine that if they stopped looking at their computing device in those eyes and were able to truly express their creativity, their viewpoint would change. Programming is not about "[sitting] in front of a screen all day." That's a misunderstanding. Programming is about taking control of your computer for fun, fame, and fortune. It just so happens that our only way of doing that is by sitting down in front of the damn thing, currently.
MojoJolo 14y ago
At first, I dislike teaching programming in schools. It is because the space might then be over populated and finding jobs will be harder. Then I realized math was taught in school, science was taught in school. But most of us students didn't end up as mathematicians or scientists. Programming is much like math and science. It is a technical topic, and not all of us will like it. It can be taught in school as an essential subject but not all of them will pursue to be a programmer in the future.
- dylan-m 14y ago
  It would make software developers' lives a lot easier if so many people weren't scared out of their wits by computers. I think even basic programming knowledge can really help with that, because it makes it abundantly clear that a computer is, itself, a tool rather than a magic box (that happens to contain some tools in between all the scary and confusing stuff). It isn't so much that I think everyone should be writing their own databases, but some understanding of how good software _should_ work, (for example, standard data formats), can guide informed decisions about software. Some basic technical knowledge is enough to understand why you should never build a large website on an ancient CMS where you end up with thousands of HTML pages that will need to be completely rewritten, one by one through some clunky web interface, when the site's design changes. Anyone should be able to look at that kind of setup and say "hey, that's complete garbage — let's hire someone who knows what they're doing!" and there will be a few less website janitors in the world. And hopefully a few more people making cool new stuff in their place. Sorry, that kind of veered off course :/
  - dinkumthinkum 14y ago
    But take any subject we learn in high school, whether it's math, science, history, etc. The general public is vastly uninformed about all of those subjects regardless of the fact that they are taught in high school. Why would programming make a bit of difference in that sense? It's not like programming is not taught at all in high school, anyway.
- patja 14y ago
  Yes, absolutely, let's make it harder for kids to compete with us and put us out of work when we are in our 50's. I don't want them innovating and creating new open source libraries that make us more productive or open up new opportunities we can't even imagine today. Life is a zero sum game after all, right? If they win I lose. I am being sarcastic.
clockwork_189 14y ago
I am in full support of this movement. Its benefit in my opinion are twofold: 1) Younger kids learn to code and which will result in them becoming more skillful programmers when they are older. 2) People who can currently program and write shitty code get challenged and can actually seek to improve their own skills and learn about more advanced concepts in programming.
scarecrowbob 14y ago
I think it's interesting that initiatives to teach programming mostly reach to kids. A big chunk of my peer group is 30 year-old underemployed humanities students. If they were interested, I'm sure that most of them could be not-underemployed. Though TV takes its toll.
- obstacle1 14y ago
  I don't understand what you mean by your last sentence. Are you saying that your friends are too distracted by TV to learn coding?
  - scarecrowbob 14y ago
    I feel that if my peers would stop with the incessant stream TV, movie, and video games, they would have no problem fitting in the time to learn all manner of useful tricks, including picking up skills that would free them from the jobs they hate. I don't believe this is a collective personal shortcoming on their part-- it's probably just the way of the world-- but the idea that so many of them hate their jobs but have ten hours a week to play games/watch films frustrates me. Rationally I understand why you might want to spend the day between your swing shifts waiting tables doing something other than working, but from where I am I think that all I can do is encourage them to do other things and point out resources.
    - lilsunnybee 14y ago
      10 hours of leisure time a week is too much? Also why exactly do you think it is so easy to get a programming job? Most employers want either work history or formal education. Even if you teach yourself programming, finding a better paying job might not be any easier.
    - jurassic 14y ago
      I think people often use media to self-medicate and distract themselves from their problems. Many of your peers probably don't even enjoy a lot of the media they consume, but they keep consuming it because it is easier to to do that than think deeply about their situation and take the risks necessary to change it. If media is your coping mechanism for a bad situation, it's tough to put that aside even though it's rationally the obvious thing to do.
deleted 14y ago
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wes-exp 14y ago
Personally I think the world is drunk with "code fever". We are creatures of overreaction. Not too long ago it was "no one learn to code! it's all going to be outsourced to India!" Now, "I'm starting a non-profit to spread the gift of coding to children. Coding is our future". Give me a f-ing break.
- foryoublue 14y ago
  Thank you.
  - tudorizer 14y ago
    If we're teaching coding to have more coding monkeys or because it's cool, you're right. On the other side, if we're teaching people to solve problems (coding or no-coding), that's always good.
- zwegner 14y ago
  Yep. I think before everyone learns to code, they need to learn to think. Just dumping a bunch more people into the software field is not going to help the average quality of software at all, which is already pretty miserable. Of course, coding is a good way to stimulate thinking, or at least it is for me. But they must go hand in hand...
- igorgue 14y ago
  What's "the world" for you? The bay area? Cause' I wish people would like to learn how to code where I live (Miami, FL).
  - kenrikm 14y ago
    I moved from Miami to the Bay Area because of that exact reason. Miami is more or less dead as far as the coding/startup community goes. To bad since it's about 1/3rd the cost to live there.
- paranoiacblack 14y ago
  Is it really that surprising to you that this would cause such a reaction? Over the past few years, coding has become so accessible that non-technical people are able easily set up projects with a few lines of code. It has also become a lot more social with programmers posting in hundreds of blogs, on twitter nonstop, and collaborating on sites like Github. This is all besides the point, though. What is wrong with "code fever," as you put it? With that kind of connotation, you seem to be implying that there is some kind of net loss if everyone learns something about programming. Beyond being mad about a fad (which is itself an overreaction, I might add), it doesn't make much sense to me. Care to explain?
vellum 14y ago
I think exposing kids to programming is a good thing. But when so many applicants fail the Fizzbuzz test, do you think there is something innate about coding? For other subjects, like math, you can get most people to do the basics, like add 2+2. http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2006/07/separating-programming-sheep-from-non-programming-goats.html http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2006/07/separating-programm...
- qu4z-2 14y ago
  But 2+2 is something you learn by rote, really.
mich41 14y ago
School courses will do nothing if people don't have access to programmable computers. And they don't have - Windows doesn't ship with Visual Studio, OSX and Linux are irrelevant, iOS and Android don't come with SDK CDs and demos. Now, of course, you know that these tools exist, and I know too. But most people don't and to them programming simply doesn't exist. Teaching these people quicksort in school won't be of much help.
- rimantas 14y ago
  > School courses will do nothing if people don't have > access to programmable computers I was taught to program exactly in this way: in the classroom, without access to computers—our school did not have any. When I finally had access to a computer and a real programming language (not some pseudo code) I just needed the syntax to write my programs in. The tricky part is not to teach kids the syntax of language X, it's to teach them to operate abstract structures, and that is much much harder.
- vellum 14y ago
  I don't see how this is an issue. Day 1: Learn how to setup the language on your computer. A lot of books, like Learn Python the Hard Way, make this the first step.
  - mich41 14y ago
    I think I slightly misstated my point. The problem isn't really about lack of programming tools, but lack of programming as a concept. You are given a black box which does some stuff, but you have no idea how it does this stuff or how to make it do something else. You don't even know that it would be relatively easy with a decent IDE.
- jeremyjh 14y ago
  Windows ships with windows scripting I believe; which gives you access to VBScript and something like a javascript out of the box. They have a free editor too but I don't know if it installs by default; anyway you can just use notepad if you want a lowest common denominator programming environment for kids on pretty much any windows box since 98.
jkeesh 14y ago
Make sure to check out CodeHS. We are the little demo shown in the video using "Karel the dog." We work on making it fun and accessible to beginners, mostly in high schools and middle schools, but also have all ages of students. More than other "learn to code" sites, we focus on problem solving rather than syntax, and also provide help from real people to students along the way. http://codehs.com http://codehs.com It's exciting to see a video like this highlight the real need and current lack of computer science education in high schools. That is exactly what we are working on, and have high schools all around the country! If this is an issue you are interested, in please contact as at team@codehs.com
aashaykumar92 14y ago
I think people are shifting away from the point of the video and that's fine, and I don't mean to be "that" guy, but it is important to realize what these accomplished programmers are trying to say through the video. If you listen carefully, most of the interviewees are simply attesting to Steve Jobs' quote at the beginning: "Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer...because it teaches you how to think." The second part, the ability to think, is a skill that people must have AND use in their everyday life to be successful in whatever they do. Zuck, Gates, Dorsey, Houston, etc. are all encouraging people to learn to code for this reason, and because programming is an extremely empowering skill--not just in one field but in all...if you want it to be. The fact that programming can be used in all fields is why there is such a huge push for people to learn. It is a self and world-empowering tool that is simply being encouraged to be taught/learned by the incoming generation. The current generation needs to realize that programming exists everywhere, just as we are taught that subjects like math, biology, chemistry, physics, and history are. There is a HUGE distinction between learning to code just for the sake of getting a job or improving the economy and learning to code because it can empower us to THINK and then DO. Not to be philosophical, but part of societies' problems has been always knowing what problems exist, but not actually doing anything to solve it--until now. Programming, more than anything, accelerates our ability to solve problems, little or big. In a world where so many problems exist, programming is many times the means to achieving the solution. And that is why these successful programmers are pushing everyone to learn.
- onedev 14y ago
  I agree with you completely. Here's a repost of what I think that I posted elsewhere: "I think the video was great and people are over analyzing it. The following is what I got out of the video because I didn't over-analyze it like most people are doing: (1) Everyone should be introduced to computer programming. Keyword here is introduced. Just like kids are introduced to Art, English, Biology, Sports, etc. Many middle and high schools are simply ignoring technology for the most part despite it's growing relevance in our lives and that is what this video is trying to point out. (2) A career in software engineering isn't necessarily the cubicle dwelling, loner, boring stigma that most uniformed people associate with it. They're showing that it can be a very fun and impactful environment like at Valve, Facebook, and Dropbox (noting the free food, laundry, etc) (3) You potentially have the opportunity to affect many people in very positive ways through the software that you develop. (4) EVEN if you don't pursue a career in programming, it can help you understand its implications in many OTHER seemingly unrelated fields. And it will help you develop critical thinking skills. (5) It can be a learned skill like any other and there's no need to be intimidated by it. All of those are very noble intentions in my opinion and valid concerns to address to the general perception of programming as well as computer education at early stages to develop interest in people that otherwise wouldn't have known about it."
EGreg 14y ago
Wow, we should have a lot more of these kickass videos so people understand what we do without having to tell them :)
jfb 14y ago
Software is terrible. I'm not sure the solution to the vast stinking wasteland of software slop is more people -- if pressed, I'd say it's less software.
dfischer 14y ago
Just want to share something I've been involved with: http://www.kidsruby http://www.kidsruby and http://www.kidscodecamp.com http://www.kidscodecamp.com
- dfischer 14y ago
  Sorry for typo, can't edit. http://www.kidsruby.com http://www.kidsruby.com
patja 14y ago
I think the point is there is a huge gap between the supply and demand for programming education, particularly for ages from 8 to 18. It is so easy and rewarding to feed the spark of desire to learn and create among kids of this age range, especially with all of the great free or almost free resources like MIT's Scratch purpose-built to address this need and reduce the barriers to entry. Schools, teachers, and most parents are not equipped to deliver these experiences today. The superficial "technology programs" at most schools are appallingly shallow, not going much beyond Garage Band and book reports in Powerpoint. Videos like this help motivate those who have the skills to engage and make a difference. What's not to like? Go out and get involved in volunteering to teach programming to kids. You will love it, and you will make a difference for kids who will go on to be the next generation of software developers.
- cji 14y ago
  My 7 year old and I have been working together on the Super Scratch book from No Starch and he's having a blast. When he asks "Can we program now?" instead of asking to watch a TV show, it's an awesome feeling. With things like Scratch and now Minecraft (which he also loves) on the Raspberry Pi, it's great to see so many resources for kids that go beyond the BASIC programming I didn't start learning until I was a few years older than him.
mckoss 14y ago
When many of us started using computers, all you could do with them was learn to program them. There were relatively few distractions of video games, or the Internet to draw your focus away. Today's computers are so engaging as a communications and entertainment device, many young people are not exposed to the possibility of using the computer as a creative tool. Learning to program is just one such activity to get the creative juices flowing in the next generation. Learning to use a computer to write a paper, make a presentation or build a spreadsheet are fine; but the power a computer can unleash has much more potential for creativity and originality when students are taught to instruct the computer directly. The early learn-to-program sites are focused on learning programming languages. This should evolve into more sophisticated environments where higher level constructs are made readily available (e.g., graphical environments, data storage and communication features). It's exciting because we can also bring the social element into the equation to create for and with your friends and family.
jschulenklopper 14y ago
The pages at http://www.code.org/learn http://www.code.org/learn could also include a reference to the Raspberry Pi and the foundation behind it: http://www.raspberrypi.org/about http://www.raspberrypi.org/about. > We want to see it being used by kids all over the world to learn programming. It used to be a lot more expensive than $40 to give a child access to a computer that (s)he could program and tinker with...
motters 14y ago
I mostly agree with the gist of the video in that learning to program is empowering and can sometimes result in a job. However, the type perk-laden of working environments shown are unrealistic, and limited to large companies such as Google or Facebook.
antirez 14y ago
This no-profit IMHO should focus on creating a free, cross-platform, awesome system similar to Codea iPad app [1], that is, the BASIC of 80s. Everything not in the same line is too boring. I've a very very positive experience with load81 [2], something I wrote almost solely for my son. In the latest months and thanks to this program my son learned to write Lua code and we are having a lot of fun. I don't think it would be possible without a system that makes drawing a circle or checking where the mouse pointer is trivial. [1] http://twolivesleft.com/Codea/ http://twolivesleft.com/Codea/ [2] https://github.com/antirez/load81 https://github.com/antirez/load81
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gamebit07 14y ago
Programming only does not help you think, there are several other disciplines that help you think. Philosophy/Logic/Sociology IMHO does it better. If industry needs more programmers, for economic growth, this does not mean kids should be brainwashed to learn to code. And even after learning to code, what do you do, an average programmers life goes just copy pasting stuff. Google/SO customize copy and paste. Thats what I have been doing. I wonder if I actually think to solve problems while coding or just pile patterns of text, place proper settings and API keys. Having said all above, Deep within I believe hackers are like painters(Read pg's great essay - http://www.paulgraham.com/hp.html http://www.paulgraham.com/hp.html), for hacking is like painting, would you want every one to be a painter? If not why everyone a programmer? Why learn to code? Programming or Painting is not mathematics nor reading writing skills, i can live happily without learning how to paint and how to write codes. Coding is NOT an essential life skill, there are many who have been living without and will continue to live. I won't learn programming because i don't require it. I feel sad, on such brainwashing. And starting with steve job's quote about programming, is like doing a ferrari promo by Michael Jordon. I would have been happier, had they got something from woz. Michael Moore come up with a documentary please.
- dbh937 14y ago
  everyone might not end up painting, but to extend the analogy, most schools have art classes.
rodolphoarruda 14y ago
I'm a manager. I can read code (PHP and C#) to some extent, but I can't code anything. I tried to learn it several times, but the syntax and all its curly braces were simply too complex to me. A bit frustrated, I decided to move one step up in the stack and tried to understand software at a "macro level", architecture, paradigms etc. I wanted to be able to make IT decisions based on concepts I found easier to grasp at that higher level. It was equally hard. But there is one thing I got from the learning process that I really liked and kept alive in my head for future use: the notions of abstraction and generalization. I'm thankful I learned this. I see value in applying it in my life. If the idea behind the widespread of teaching/learning how to code, involves concepts like those I mentioned, then I think it is super valid.
- elbear 14y ago
  If you still want to learn how to code, try with different languages. Python is a favourite for people starting out with programming, for example.
te_chris 14y ago
I really hope that barely-disguised copy of an LCD sound system song in there involved royalties being paid to the band.
- rgarcia 14y ago
  It's turtles all the way down. I love LCD, but here are examples of things James Murphy lifted: the fall telephone thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEOtckaZtLg#t=0m36s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEOtckaZtLg#t=0m36s pretty distinctive way to say "i'm tapped" used in movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6MIChyCBAU#t=0m43s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6MIChyCBAU#t=0m43s in general his vocal style and delivery alternate between mark e smith from the fall and brian eno. really not a bad thing in my book, but still not entirely original. homosapien by peter shelley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwmO_GZfzI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwmO_GZfzI sounds like the basis of north american scum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmm14g4cAFc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmm14g4cAFc there's also the more than passing similarity between somebody's calling me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRCAuao67F4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRCAuao67F4 and iggy pop's nightclubbing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3OaMZojJRg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3OaMZojJRg all i want http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6BYCcy5aeo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6BYCcy5aeo is pretty much bowie's heroes.
  - te_chris 14y ago
    I understand it's just culture, appropriation is how culture develops. That being said, that piece of music used in this is obviously just a rip off of Dance Yrself Clean, with a small modality change.
    - m0hit 14y ago
      Based on past occurrences, it would seem that DFA Records would not mind it too much: https://twitter.com/dfarecords/status/205708411344666625 https://twitter.com/dfarecords/status/205708411344666625 http://boilerroom.tv/james-murphys-red-bull-music-academy-lecture/ http://boilerroom.tv/james-murphys-red-bull-music-academy-le...
rocky1138 14y ago
This is all well and great, and my comment is meant in no way to belittle these efforts. What good programmers have a lot of, though, is self-discipline, initiative, and patience. If we can teach kids those core skills, they can use them to learn programming later or excel in any other profession they choose.
JacksonGariety 14y ago
I showed this to my high school programming class not two hours ago. They weren't impressed until Gaben showed up. What does this say about inspiring students to code? It syas that Minecraft has probably done more for the Java than Sun Microsystems ever did.
- dinkumthinkum 14y ago
  Well, shocker, kids are more into games than licensing collaboration software to other businesses ...
beatpanda 14y ago
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. We're all going to look supremely stupid for things like this in ~2 years.
tn13 14y ago
Wrongly Done. Do kids really care about Bill Gates and the guy who created Valve ? Show them some Pixar movie and tell them how those movies were made with technology. Tell them how technology enables sports bring people whom they can relate with. Not Zukerberg or Gates.
moccajoghurt 14y ago
Coding is an incredibly frustrating and hard path and I doubt that coding will become more popular on a professional level. There probably can be more hobby programmers that code some simple stuff but there is NO WAY coding can become some kind of popular mainstream hobby.
bjoe_lewis 14y ago
Seriously, do you think inspiring the students with the amount of money, 'they' earned with code is a good idea?
ehmuidifici 14y ago
That's a cool intiative, But we have to consider that all companies that support the initiative arent there for free. Theres a commercial interest in encouraging kids to code: cheaper manpower in the future.

441 points by aashaykumar92 14y ago

I think the video was great and people are over analyzing it. The following is what I got out of the video because I didn't over-analyze it like most people are doing: (1) Everyone should be introduced to computer programming. Keyword here is introduced. Just like kids are introduced to Art, English, Biology, Sports, etc. Many middle and high schools are simply ignoring technology for the most part despite it's growing relevance in our lives and that is what this video is trying to point out. (2) A career in software engineering isn't necessarily the cubicle dwelling, loner, boring stigma that most uniformed people associate with it. They're showing that it can be a very fun and impactful environment like at Valve, Facebook, and Dropbox (noting the free food, laundry, etc) (3) You potentially have the opportunity to affect many people in very positive ways through the software that you develop. (4) EVEN if you don't pursue a career in programming, it can help you understand its implications in many OTHER seemingly unrelated fields. And it will help you develop critical thinking skills. (5) It can be a learned skill like any other and there's no need to be intimidated by it. All of those are very noble intentions in my opinion and valid concerns to address to the general perception of programming as well as computer education at early stages to develop interest in people that otherwise wouldn't have known about it.

selectout 14y ago

Loved seeing them bring in celebrities outside of the tech world to share their experiences/passions for code. Chris Bosh was a complete surprise to me but made me like him even more.

Nemisis7654 14y ago
I agree. Not many young people know who Gabe Newell or Drew Houston is. But seeing big names like that that younger people are familiar with could lead to more interest in coding. Great video.
- grapjas 14y ago
  Or compare the public reaction of the death of Steve Jobs vs. the death of David Ritchie
  - sreyaNotfilc 14y ago
    You mean Dennis Ritchie... BTW, I posted news about his death (I heard of it a week after he died, go figure) on facebook. Its sad that one person replied with RIP Mr. Ritchie and a "like". I was pleased though. That's the way the world turns.
    - zwegner 14y ago
      Yep, same with John McCarthy, who died around the same time.
  - tlrobinson 14y ago
    The irony of you getting Dennis Ritchie's name wrong is strong...
foryoublue 14y ago
LETS GO HEAT!!!!!!! Miami #1, Golden State, Knicks, Nets, Lakers can't stop the HEAT!
the_cat_kittles 14y ago
If he became a more vocal advocate for coding education, he could have an incredibly huge impact since basketball has such a big international fan base. Not to mention he is just a cool dude!

michaelochurch 14y ago

The gap between CS majors and software jobs is misleading. You don't need a CS degree to become a decent programmer. Still, if there's such a shortage of good programmers (and I agree that there probably is) then why aren't we playing this to our advantage? A senior engineer can't afford a house in the Bay Area or New York, and our status is low-- we still work for managers; we're a defeated tribe in this way. Most of us don't have the autonomy to choose our tools or decide whether to use or replace old legacy code. Shouldn't our top priority, as a tribe, be to change this? We should make programmer autonomy our major issue. http://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/programmer-autonomy-is-a-1-trillion-issue/ http://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/programmer-au... This will benefit us and the economy as a whole. Then, after we've had this victory, we can work on increasing the total number of programmers.

nbashaw 14y ago
How in any way would this benefit the economy as a whole?
- anonymfus 14y ago
  Expensive labour provides incentives to automate it.
  - throwawayG9 14y ago
    So? It can't be done, so forget about that. Just like you can't replace the executives.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- michaelochurch 14y ago
  First, the shortage of good programmers has more to do with the scarcity of high-quality work than a lack of access to knowledge. More autonomy for programmers means more high-quality work is done, which generates higher returns already but also means that programmers improve. Second, if programmers take the decision-making roles back from smooth-talking executives, that means that smarter and more competent people will be calling the shots and society will run more efficiently.

steveinator 14y ago

I really wish people didn't spread this kind of message. Think job security guys! Come on!

klepra 14y ago
That is wrong attitude.
- 11001 14y ago
  Honest question - why? How getting more people into automation business will benefit people who are in it now (us), or the economy (arguably automation makes jobs and whole industries redundant). I am all for encouraging people to study science and mathematics, but I don't understand the value of getting more people to just "code".
  - klepra 14y ago
    People should be educated enough to know what they can expect from a computer - by learning coding they would get a deeper view into those things - not everyone would become a professional coder. And even then, every good professional create even more jobs - you can't do everything by yourself even if you know how too. Also it is for greater good - I think it is a step to happier society with more decent life.
  - Dove 14y ago
    Large, skilled populations bring great advances. In a world with hundreds of programmers, you get FORTRAN and specialized computers solving defense problems. In a world with hundreds of thousands, you get everything from smartphones and video games to industrial robots. I'm not worried about job security. But I am excited about what armies of coders can invent.
devonbarrett 14y ago
Most of these people would not become developers. But think of the benefits if everyone had a brief exposure to how a computer works, or a realistic view of it should/can do. It may even cause everyone to regularly update their browsers as they now see the importance of it - we may even see the death of IE ;)

greghinch 14y ago

It seems silly to me that a basic computer science ciriculum isn't being added to high school or before. In the same way you have to take basic biology, chemistry, and physics, a modern student needs at least a fundamental exposure to the basics of computing

CodeCube 14y ago
I wholly agree with you, though I will expand it by saying that I hope they bring back some of the other vocational classes as well (woodshop, metalshop, etc). While I can't wait to see what new generations of programmers will bring us, we need craftsmen, mechanics, welders and other vocational professions just as much to help us with our physical infrastructure. Basically, everything Mike Rowe says here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NwEFVUb-u0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NwEFVUb-u0

lenazegher 14y ago

I've heard lot of people say that the best way to learn to code is to set out to solve a problem you're having. I wonder if the global trend towards open solutions for problems will discourage people learning to code. I've been using computers for perhaps 15 years and I've only ever skirted around the edges of coding. I've learned a little regex and a tiny bit of bash scripting and I know how to edit a little php to get Wordpress to do what I want it to, but that's as much as I've needed to solve every computing problem I've encountered. Wordpress is a pretty good example: there's now such a rich ecosystem of themes, plugins and hacks that you can get it to do some pretty amazing things without needing to actually write any code yourself.

warp 14y ago
Then you're thinking too small. Solve non-computing problems you're having! :)

adventured 14y ago

I was fortunate enough that the public elementary school I went to, had a full computer lab (in 1985); the public middle school and high school also did. And this was in a very poor part of the country. There's little question every school in America should have that; if my poor public schools were able to make it happen, anybody can. I learned basic programming in middle school (turbo pascal!) and high school courtesy of those opportunities. I plan to give back throughout the rest of my life, to the education system I came from. If even one or two people per school did that, it would make a huge difference.

lifeisstillgood 14y ago

FOr me the reasoning is simple: * reading and writing code is basic literacy for the information age * One generation hence, any company that is literate (almost all employees write code, the use of code runs through all its processes) will have enormous competitve advantages. Or rather any company that is illiterate will have enormous competitive disadvantages * So Software will eat the world. * but in the process from here to there, developers will take over more and more - moving from the "typing pool" into all of the company. * this is unlikely to be a fixed supply of coders getting more % of revenue, and more like everyone learns to code and then usual political fighting resumes.

rimantas 14y ago
> reading and writing code is basic literacy for the > information age No. Just like everyone being a car mechanic is not the basic literacy of the automotive age. "Everyone learns to code" is a pipe dream.
- lifeisstillgood 14y ago
  But everyone learning to drive is / was. Being a car driver is python coding. Being a car mechanic is probably on the order of writing a compiler. The analogies will always break down but really, in this day and age, an adult in the Western world who cannot drive is socially and econmoically disadvantaged. (chooses not to is likely a different thing - for half of 20 years in London I had no car and biked / tubed everywhere. Now, my day would be impossible without a car. Sad but true) I mean how many 17 year-olds do you know who say, "Learning to drive - who needs it?"
  - k-mcgrady 14y ago
    >> "But everyone learning to drive is / was. Being a car driver is python coding. Being a car mechanic is probably on the order of writing a compiler." I think being a car driver is more equal to being a competent computer user not a python programmer.
    - 14y ago

stevenameyer 14y ago

I think programming really needs to be added to public school curriculums. Not just because there is a lot of job opportunities for people with the skill set, but also because I personally believe it is one of the best vehicles for learning critical thinking skills, problem solving and computer literacy. All skills that are very useful in todays day and age regardless of wether you end up ever writing a line of code outside of school.

klepra 14y ago

I think these days is relatevely easy to get basics down with sites like codecademy, codeschool, teamtreehouse and such. At least in web developement. You can get the idea how it all works, how to do simple stuff. To me, the biggest challenge is to get bigger picture of technology I am using -> once I understand that learning is much faster.

kayoone 14y ago

I get the message and it certainly makes sense for alot of people to be able to code, but on the other hand i know so many (also smart) people that hate any job that would involve using a computer for more than communication. Not everyone wants to sit in front of a screen all day, and imo thats a good thing.

danso 14y ago
Not everyone wants to sit and read or do calculations, but it's still important to have a basic grasp of literacy and numbers. Currently, there is not a basic grasp of digital literacy. I don't think everyone should know, off the top of their head, how to compile a script. But if people understood the idea of patterns in text and repeatable tasks (i.e. for loops), that could be very helpful, especially to professional developers who can make use of structured, well planned information.
pawelwentpawel 14y ago
But most of the people do anyway. Majority of office jobs involve sitting in front of the screen through the whole day. Having some basic programming skills and general knowledge of "what is happening under the hood" would make many people's work much easier but we can't expect them to suddenly become developers just because it's cool and useful. However, most of them don't even realize how useful knowing at least one scripting programming language can be. What sit in front of the screen through the whole day if with little effort you can automate some areas of your work.
paranoiacblack 14y ago
Well, you have to consider that this is due to their exposure to computers in the past. Common users often see computers as this buggy device that sometimes feeds them their emails or allows them to catch up with friends on facebook. Others familiarize it with a tool that makes people antisocial or destroys interpersonal communication because of all of the possible distractions. And even then others think that computers can only do what they make them do on the job and they hate their job. I'd imagine that if they stopped looking at their computing device in those eyes and were able to truly express their creativity, their viewpoint would change. Programming is not about "[sitting] in front of a screen all day." That's a misunderstanding. Programming is about taking control of your computer for fun, fame, and fortune. It just so happens that our only way of doing that is by sitting down in front of the damn thing, currently.

MojoJolo 14y ago

At first, I dislike teaching programming in schools. It is because the space might then be over populated and finding jobs will be harder. Then I realized math was taught in school, science was taught in school. But most of us students didn't end up as mathematicians or scientists. Programming is much like math and science. It is a technical topic, and not all of us will like it. It can be taught in school as an essential subject but not all of them will pursue to be a programmer in the future.

dylan-m 14y ago
It would make software developers' lives a lot easier if so many people weren't scared out of their wits by computers. I think even basic programming knowledge can really help with that, because it makes it abundantly clear that a computer is, itself, a tool rather than a magic box (that happens to contain some tools in between all the scary and confusing stuff). It isn't so much that I think everyone should be writing their own databases, but some understanding of how good software _should_ work, (for example, standard data formats), can guide informed decisions about software. Some basic technical knowledge is enough to understand why you should never build a large website on an ancient CMS where you end up with thousands of HTML pages that will need to be completely rewritten, one by one through some clunky web interface, when the site's design changes. Anyone should be able to look at that kind of setup and say "hey, that's complete garbage — let's hire someone who knows what they're doing!" and there will be a few less website janitors in the world. And hopefully a few more people making cool new stuff in their place. Sorry, that kind of veered off course :/
- dinkumthinkum 14y ago
  But take any subject we learn in high school, whether it's math, science, history, etc. The general public is vastly uninformed about all of those subjects regardless of the fact that they are taught in high school. Why would programming make a bit of difference in that sense? It's not like programming is not taught at all in high school, anyway.
patja 14y ago
Yes, absolutely, let's make it harder for kids to compete with us and put us out of work when we are in our 50's. I don't want them innovating and creating new open source libraries that make us more productive or open up new opportunities we can't even imagine today. Life is a zero sum game after all, right? If they win I lose. I am being sarcastic.

clockwork_189 14y ago

I am in full support of this movement. Its benefit in my opinion are twofold: 1) Younger kids learn to code and which will result in them becoming more skillful programmers when they are older. 2) People who can currently program and write shitty code get challenged and can actually seek to improve their own skills and learn about more advanced concepts in programming.

scarecrowbob 14y ago

I think it's interesting that initiatives to teach programming mostly reach to kids. A big chunk of my peer group is 30 year-old underemployed humanities students. If they were interested, I'm sure that most of them could be not-underemployed. Though TV takes its toll.

obstacle1 14y ago
I don't understand what you mean by your last sentence. Are you saying that your friends are too distracted by TV to learn coding?
- scarecrowbob 14y ago
  I feel that if my peers would stop with the incessant stream TV, movie, and video games, they would have no problem fitting in the time to learn all manner of useful tricks, including picking up skills that would free them from the jobs they hate. I don't believe this is a collective personal shortcoming on their part-- it's probably just the way of the world-- but the idea that so many of them hate their jobs but have ten hours a week to play games/watch films frustrates me. Rationally I understand why you might want to spend the day between your swing shifts waiting tables doing something other than working, but from where I am I think that all I can do is encourage them to do other things and point out resources.
  - lilsunnybee 14y ago
    10 hours of leisure time a week is too much? Also why exactly do you think it is so easy to get a programming job? Most employers want either work history or formal education. Even if you teach yourself programming, finding a better paying job might not be any easier.
  - jurassic 14y ago
    I think people often use media to self-medicate and distract themselves from their problems. Many of your peers probably don't even enjoy a lot of the media they consume, but they keep consuming it because it is easier to to do that than think deeply about their situation and take the risks necessary to change it. If media is your coping mechanism for a bad situation, it's tough to put that aside even though it's rationally the obvious thing to do.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

wes-exp 14y ago

Personally I think the world is drunk with "code fever". We are creatures of overreaction. Not too long ago it was "no one learn to code! it's all going to be outsourced to India!" Now, "I'm starting a non-profit to spread the gift of coding to children. Coding is our future". Give me a f-ing break.

foryoublue 14y ago
Thank you.
- tudorizer 14y ago
  If we're teaching coding to have more coding monkeys or because it's cool, you're right. On the other side, if we're teaching people to solve problems (coding or no-coding), that's always good.
zwegner 14y ago
Yep. I think before everyone learns to code, they need to learn to think. Just dumping a bunch more people into the software field is not going to help the average quality of software at all, which is already pretty miserable. Of course, coding is a good way to stimulate thinking, or at least it is for me. But they must go hand in hand...
igorgue 14y ago
What's "the world" for you? The bay area? Cause' I wish people would like to learn how to code where I live (Miami, FL).
- kenrikm 14y ago
  I moved from Miami to the Bay Area because of that exact reason. Miami is more or less dead as far as the coding/startup community goes. To bad since it's about 1/3rd the cost to live there.
paranoiacblack 14y ago
Is it really that surprising to you that this would cause such a reaction? Over the past few years, coding has become so accessible that non-technical people are able easily set up projects with a few lines of code. It has also become a lot more social with programmers posting in hundreds of blogs, on twitter nonstop, and collaborating on sites like Github. This is all besides the point, though. What is wrong with "code fever," as you put it? With that kind of connotation, you seem to be implying that there is some kind of net loss if everyone learns something about programming. Beyond being mad about a fad (which is itself an overreaction, I might add), it doesn't make much sense to me. Care to explain?

vellum 14y ago

I think exposing kids to programming is a good thing. But when so many applicants fail the Fizzbuzz test, do you think there is something innate about coding? For other subjects, like math, you can get most people to do the basics, like add 2+2. http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2006/07/separating-programming-sheep-from-non-programming-goats.html http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2006/07/separating-programm...

qu4z-2 14y ago
But 2+2 is something you learn by rote, really.

mich41 14y ago

School courses will do nothing if people don't have access to programmable computers. And they don't have - Windows doesn't ship with Visual Studio, OSX and Linux are irrelevant, iOS and Android don't come with SDK CDs and demos. Now, of course, you know that these tools exist, and I know too. But most people don't and to them programming simply doesn't exist. Teaching these people quicksort in school won't be of much help.

rimantas 14y ago
> School courses will do nothing if people don't have > access to programmable computers I was taught to program exactly in this way: in the classroom, without access to computers—our school did not have any. When I finally had access to a computer and a real programming language (not some pseudo code) I just needed the syntax to write my programs in. The tricky part is not to teach kids the syntax of language X, it's to teach them to operate abstract structures, and that is much much harder.
vellum 14y ago
I don't see how this is an issue. Day 1: Learn how to setup the language on your computer. A lot of books, like Learn Python the Hard Way, make this the first step.
- mich41 14y ago
  I think I slightly misstated my point. The problem isn't really about lack of programming tools, but lack of programming as a concept. You are given a black box which does some stuff, but you have no idea how it does this stuff or how to make it do something else. You don't even know that it would be relatively easy with a decent IDE.
jeremyjh 14y ago
Windows ships with windows scripting I believe; which gives you access to VBScript and something like a javascript out of the box. They have a free editor too but I don't know if it installs by default; anyway you can just use notepad if you want a lowest common denominator programming environment for kids on pretty much any windows box since 98.

jkeesh 14y ago

Make sure to check out CodeHS. We are the little demo shown in the video using "Karel the dog." We work on making it fun and accessible to beginners, mostly in high schools and middle schools, but also have all ages of students. More than other "learn to code" sites, we focus on problem solving rather than syntax, and also provide help from real people to students along the way. http://codehs.com http://codehs.com It's exciting to see a video like this highlight the real need and current lack of computer science education in high schools. That is exactly what we are working on, and have high schools all around the country! If this is an issue you are interested, in please contact as at team@codehs.com

aashaykumar92 14y ago

I think people are shifting away from the point of the video and that's fine, and I don't mean to be "that" guy, but it is important to realize what these accomplished programmers are trying to say through the video. If you listen carefully, most of the interviewees are simply attesting to Steve Jobs' quote at the beginning: "Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer...because it teaches you how to think." The second part, the ability to think, is a skill that people must have AND use in their everyday life to be successful in whatever they do. Zuck, Gates, Dorsey, Houston, etc. are all encouraging people to learn to code for this reason, and because programming is an extremely empowering skill--not just in one field but in all...if you want it to be. The fact that programming can be used in all fields is why there is such a huge push for people to learn. It is a self and world-empowering tool that is simply being encouraged to be taught/learned by the incoming generation. The current generation needs to realize that programming exists everywhere, just as we are taught that subjects like math, biology, chemistry, physics, and history are. There is a HUGE distinction between learning to code just for the sake of getting a job or improving the economy and learning to code because it can empower us to THINK and then DO. Not to be philosophical, but part of societies' problems has been always knowing what problems exist, but not actually doing anything to solve it--until now. Programming, more than anything, accelerates our ability to solve problems, little or big. In a world where so many problems exist, programming is many times the means to achieving the solution. And that is why these successful programmers are pushing everyone to learn.

onedev 14y ago
I agree with you completely. Here's a repost of what I think that I posted elsewhere: "I think the video was great and people are over analyzing it. The following is what I got out of the video because I didn't over-analyze it like most people are doing: (1) Everyone should be introduced to computer programming. Keyword here is introduced. Just like kids are introduced to Art, English, Biology, Sports, etc. Many middle and high schools are simply ignoring technology for the most part despite it's growing relevance in our lives and that is what this video is trying to point out. (2) A career in software engineering isn't necessarily the cubicle dwelling, loner, boring stigma that most uniformed people associate with it. They're showing that it can be a very fun and impactful environment like at Valve, Facebook, and Dropbox (noting the free food, laundry, etc) (3) You potentially have the opportunity to affect many people in very positive ways through the software that you develop. (4) EVEN if you don't pursue a career in programming, it can help you understand its implications in many OTHER seemingly unrelated fields. And it will help you develop critical thinking skills. (5) It can be a learned skill like any other and there's no need to be intimidated by it. All of those are very noble intentions in my opinion and valid concerns to address to the general perception of programming as well as computer education at early stages to develop interest in people that otherwise wouldn't have known about it."

EGreg 14y ago

Wow, we should have a lot more of these kickass videos so people understand what we do without having to tell them :)

jfb 14y ago

Software is terrible. I'm not sure the solution to the vast stinking wasteland of software slop is more people -- if pressed, I'd say it's less software.

dfischer 14y ago

Just want to share something I've been involved with: http://www.kidsruby http://www.kidsruby and http://www.kidscodecamp.com http://www.kidscodecamp.com

dfischer 14y ago
Sorry for typo, can't edit. http://www.kidsruby.com http://www.kidsruby.com

patja 14y ago

I think the point is there is a huge gap between the supply and demand for programming education, particularly for ages from 8 to 18. It is so easy and rewarding to feed the spark of desire to learn and create among kids of this age range, especially with all of the great free or almost free resources like MIT's Scratch purpose-built to address this need and reduce the barriers to entry. Schools, teachers, and most parents are not equipped to deliver these experiences today. The superficial "technology programs" at most schools are appallingly shallow, not going much beyond Garage Band and book reports in Powerpoint. Videos like this help motivate those who have the skills to engage and make a difference. What's not to like? Go out and get involved in volunteering to teach programming to kids. You will love it, and you will make a difference for kids who will go on to be the next generation of software developers.

cji 14y ago
My 7 year old and I have been working together on the Super Scratch book from No Starch and he's having a blast. When he asks "Can we program now?" instead of asking to watch a TV show, it's an awesome feeling. With things like Scratch and now Minecraft (which he also loves) on the Raspberry Pi, it's great to see so many resources for kids that go beyond the BASIC programming I didn't start learning until I was a few years older than him.

mckoss 14y ago

When many of us started using computers, all you could do with them was learn to program them. There were relatively few distractions of video games, or the Internet to draw your focus away. Today's computers are so engaging as a communications and entertainment device, many young people are not exposed to the possibility of using the computer as a creative tool. Learning to program is just one such activity to get the creative juices flowing in the next generation. Learning to use a computer to write a paper, make a presentation or build a spreadsheet are fine; but the power a computer can unleash has much more potential for creativity and originality when students are taught to instruct the computer directly. The early learn-to-program sites are focused on learning programming languages. This should evolve into more sophisticated environments where higher level constructs are made readily available (e.g., graphical environments, data storage and communication features). It's exciting because we can also bring the social element into the equation to create for and with your friends and family.

jschulenklopper 14y ago

The pages at http://www.code.org/learn http://www.code.org/learn could also include a reference to the Raspberry Pi and the foundation behind it: http://www.raspberrypi.org/about http://www.raspberrypi.org/about. > We want to see it being used by kids all over the world to learn programming. It used to be a lot more expensive than $40 to give a child access to a computer that (s)he could program and tinker with...

motters 14y ago

I mostly agree with the gist of the video in that learning to program is empowering and can sometimes result in a job. However, the type perk-laden of working environments shown are unrealistic, and limited to large companies such as Google or Facebook.

antirez 14y ago

This no-profit IMHO should focus on creating a free, cross-platform, awesome system similar to Codea iPad app [1], that is, the BASIC of 80s. Everything not in the same line is too boring. I've a very very positive experience with load81 [2], something I wrote almost solely for my son. In the latest months and thanks to this program my son learned to write Lua code and we are having a lot of fun. I don't think it would be possible without a system that makes drawing a circle or checking where the mouse pointer is trivial. [1] http://twolivesleft.com/Codea/ http://twolivesleft.com/Codea/ [2] https://github.com/antirez/load81 https://github.com/antirez/load81

deleted 14y ago

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gamebit07 14y ago

Programming only does not help you think, there are several other disciplines that help you think. Philosophy/Logic/Sociology IMHO does it better. If industry needs more programmers, for economic growth, this does not mean kids should be brainwashed to learn to code. And even after learning to code, what do you do, an average programmers life goes just copy pasting stuff. Google/SO customize copy and paste. Thats what I have been doing. I wonder if I actually think to solve problems while coding or just pile patterns of text, place proper settings and API keys. Having said all above, Deep within I believe hackers are like painters(Read pg's great essay - http://www.paulgraham.com/hp.html http://www.paulgraham.com/hp.html), for hacking is like painting, would you want every one to be a painter? If not why everyone a programmer? Why learn to code? Programming or Painting is not mathematics nor reading writing skills, i can live happily without learning how to paint and how to write codes. Coding is NOT an essential life skill, there are many who have been living without and will continue to live. I won't learn programming because i don't require it. I feel sad, on such brainwashing. And starting with steve job's quote about programming, is like doing a ferrari promo by Michael Jordon. I would have been happier, had they got something from woz. Michael Moore come up with a documentary please.

dbh937 14y ago
everyone might not end up painting, but to extend the analogy, most schools have art classes.

rodolphoarruda 14y ago

I'm a manager. I can read code (PHP and C#) to some extent, but I can't code anything. I tried to learn it several times, but the syntax and all its curly braces were simply too complex to me. A bit frustrated, I decided to move one step up in the stack and tried to understand software at a "macro level", architecture, paradigms etc. I wanted to be able to make IT decisions based on concepts I found easier to grasp at that higher level. It was equally hard. But there is one thing I got from the learning process that I really liked and kept alive in my head for future use: the notions of abstraction and generalization. I'm thankful I learned this. I see value in applying it in my life. If the idea behind the widespread of teaching/learning how to code, involves concepts like those I mentioned, then I think it is super valid.

elbear 14y ago
If you still want to learn how to code, try with different languages. Python is a favourite for people starting out with programming, for example.

te_chris 14y ago

I really hope that barely-disguised copy of an LCD sound system song in there involved royalties being paid to the band.

rgarcia 14y ago
It's turtles all the way down. I love LCD, but here are examples of things James Murphy lifted: the fall telephone thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEOtckaZtLg#t=0m36s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEOtckaZtLg#t=0m36s pretty distinctive way to say "i'm tapped" used in movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6MIChyCBAU#t=0m43s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6MIChyCBAU#t=0m43s in general his vocal style and delivery alternate between mark e smith from the fall and brian eno. really not a bad thing in my book, but still not entirely original. homosapien by peter shelley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwmO_GZfzI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwmO_GZfzI sounds like the basis of north american scum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmm14g4cAFc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmm14g4cAFc there's also the more than passing similarity between somebody's calling me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRCAuao67F4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRCAuao67F4 and iggy pop's nightclubbing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3OaMZojJRg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3OaMZojJRg all i want http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6BYCcy5aeo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6BYCcy5aeo is pretty much bowie's heroes.
- te_chris 14y ago
  I understand it's just culture, appropriation is how culture develops. That being said, that piece of music used in this is obviously just a rip off of Dance Yrself Clean, with a small modality change.
  - m0hit 14y ago
    Based on past occurrences, it would seem that DFA Records would not mind it too much: https://twitter.com/dfarecords/status/205708411344666625 https://twitter.com/dfarecords/status/205708411344666625 http://boilerroom.tv/james-murphys-red-bull-music-academy-lecture/ http://boilerroom.tv/james-murphys-red-bull-music-academy-le...

rocky1138 14y ago

This is all well and great, and my comment is meant in no way to belittle these efforts. What good programmers have a lot of, though, is self-discipline, initiative, and patience. If we can teach kids those core skills, they can use them to learn programming later or excel in any other profession they choose.

JacksonGariety 14y ago

I showed this to my high school programming class not two hours ago. They weren't impressed until Gaben showed up. What does this say about inspiring students to code? It syas that Minecraft has probably done more for the Java than Sun Microsystems ever did.

dinkumthinkum 14y ago
Well, shocker, kids are more into games than licensing collaboration software to other businesses ...

beatpanda 14y ago

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. We're all going to look supremely stupid for things like this in ~2 years.

tn13 14y ago

Wrongly Done. Do kids really care about Bill Gates and the guy who created Valve ? Show them some Pixar movie and tell them how those movies were made with technology. Tell them how technology enables sports bring people whom they can relate with. Not Zukerberg or Gates.

moccajoghurt 14y ago

Coding is an incredibly frustrating and hard path and I doubt that coding will become more popular on a professional level. There probably can be more hobby programmers that code some simple stuff but there is NO WAY coding can become some kind of popular mainstream hobby.

bjoe_lewis 14y ago

Seriously, do you think inspiring the students with the amount of money, 'they' earned with code is a good idea?

ehmuidifici 14y ago

That's a cool intiative, But we have to consider that all companies that support the initiative arent there for free. Theres a commercial interest in encouraging kids to code: cheaper manpower in the future.