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In this case, this is a person who wants to code, so I'm not sure your point applies. In the event of a person who's not specifically interested, I'd argue tha

In this case, this is a person who wants to code, so I'm not sure your point applies. In the event of a person who's not specifically interested, I'd argue that very basic programming is useful for learning logic, getting a more realistic idea of how computers work (and don't work), and it's useful because of how much work in almost every industry is done on a computer. I'm an MD, and I'm not a developer. Knowing some basic programming has helped me analyze data and automate a few tasks in the past, but more importantly it helps me identify which problems can be solved with software even if I'm not the one that builds it.

rubicon33 12y ago
I'm not sure that I interpret the fervor behind this world-wide code push, to be simply targeted at encouraging people to have develop a 'basic programming' knowledge. It seems like there's a far stronger drive to get people into this as a CAREER. I hear what you're saying though, there's definitely benefit to knowing programming. My point is, it's no more beneficial than many other disciplines which AREN'T getting national attention. Why the disparity, I wonder?
- phren0logy 12y ago
  Fair point, but the net result has been a shift in basic computer education from "how to use Microsoft Office" to "learn a bit of coding" which seems like a huge step in the right direction.
- tragic 12y ago
  A couple of reasons, I guess. Firstly, since Google/Facebook/miscellaneous mega-startups, there have been people with enormous wealth and power who got there through the 'engineering track', and love developing software, even if they don't do much of it any more. There are nurses who find their jobs intensely rewarding, but CEOs of big medical companies are not typically drawn from their ranks. So there are evangelists for code with powerful public platforms for their statements. Secondly, the smarter of the SJWs realise that - in terms of diversity and so on - there's a supply shortage further down the pipe. So a disproportionate number of do-gooder startups/tech non profits are focused on teaching more kids from different backgrounds the basics at an earlier age, since that is a sincere concern among the people who found such enterprises. (Throwing money at such things is a cheap, convenient PR move for the likes of Google, as well.) Thirdly, as others have pointed out, teaching somebody to code requires a light capital investment up-front, relative to the value of the skill. There's no way to become a doctor without years of med school; you can start throwing code around as soon as somebody gives you a refitted chromebook and tells you to type "print 'hello world'". Fourthly, hype around the Valley and the tech industry today.

rubicon33 12y ago

I'm not sure that I interpret the fervor behind this world-wide code push, to be simply targeted at encouraging people to have develop a 'basic programming' knowledge. It seems like there's a far stronger drive to get people into this as a CAREER. I hear what you're saying though, there's definitely benefit to knowing programming. My point is, it's no more beneficial than many other disciplines which AREN'T getting national attention. Why the disparity, I wonder?

phren0logy 12y ago
Fair point, but the net result has been a shift in basic computer education from "how to use Microsoft Office" to "learn a bit of coding" which seems like a huge step in the right direction.
tragic 12y ago
A couple of reasons, I guess. Firstly, since Google/Facebook/miscellaneous mega-startups, there have been people with enormous wealth and power who got there through the 'engineering track', and love developing software, even if they don't do much of it any more. There are nurses who find their jobs intensely rewarding, but CEOs of big medical companies are not typically drawn from their ranks. So there are evangelists for code with powerful public platforms for their statements. Secondly, the smarter of the SJWs realise that - in terms of diversity and so on - there's a supply shortage further down the pipe. So a disproportionate number of do-gooder startups/tech non profits are focused on teaching more kids from different backgrounds the basics at an earlier age, since that is a sincere concern among the people who found such enterprises. (Throwing money at such things is a cheap, convenient PR move for the likes of Google, as well.) Thirdly, as others have pointed out, teaching somebody to code requires a light capital investment up-front, relative to the value of the skill. There's no way to become a doctor without years of med school; you can start throwing code around as soon as somebody gives you a refitted chromebook and tells you to type "print 'hello world'". Fourthly, hype around the Valley and the tech industry today.