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codinghorror.com

Please Don't Learn to Code

This is a collection of all 17 recommendations for “Please Don't Learn to Code”. You’ll probably need 4 minutes to finish this text.

By popularity By time
Drake Rubicon
Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Recited from Martin Wolf
Max Lielje
Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Recited from Martin Wolf
xwg
Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Recited from Martin Wolf
Stefan
Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Recited from Nico
Andreas Spiegler
Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Recited from Stefan
Nico
Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Recited from Martin Wolf
Martin Wolf
Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
  1. Martin Wolf

    Martin Wolf So true. And for a matter of fact I started to learn HTML/CSS and the like because I had a problem: I needed a website. :D

    May 15, 2012
  2. Florian Letsch

    Florian Letsch I agree with his point of rather learning how to solve problems than just wanting to write code. But the general idea of bringing more people to a general understanding of how our technical world is working behind the scenes seems very important to me. I know, the article agrees with that as well. But in my opinion learning how to code looks like the best way to get an impression of how everything works.
    Just telling someone how creating software works in theory ("You write some lines of a so called programming language and then something happens in the memory and you see something on the screen... kind of.") doesn't really do the job. Have someone create his/her first 10 line program ("Oh my god, it prints my name on the screen!!11") not only is a great personal achievement (more)but actually perceives a lot more of the technical background of how computers work than any article that a politician could be handed "so you understand how computers work."
    I am not saying Mike Bloomberg need that knowledge for doing his job as a mayor. But I am saying he still benefits from that knowledge, even if it's just for himself, for a person living in the 21st century.

    May 16, 2012 | 2
Arne Bahlo
Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Recited from Martin Wolf
Malte Mertz
Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Recited from Martin Wolf
anneschuessler
I suppose I can support learning a tiny bit about programming just so you can recognize what code is, and when code might be an appropriate way to approach a problem you have. But I can also recognize plumbing problems when I see them without any particular training in the area. The general populace (and its political leadership) could probably benefit most of all from a basic understanding of how computers, and the Internet, work. Being able to get around on the Internet is becoming a basic life skill, and we should be worried about fixing that first and most of all, before we start jumping a[…]
Estimated reading time: 4 min
  1. anneschuessler

    anneschuessler Not sure if I agree, but there are some interesting points.

    May 15, 2012
Maddie Maher
It puts the method before the problem. Before you go rushing out to learn to code, figure out what your problem actually is. Do you even have a problem? Can you explain it to others in a way they can understand? Have you researched the problem, and its possible solutions, deeply? Does coding solve that problem? Are you sure?
Estimated reading time: 4 min
  1. Maddie Maher

    Maddie Maher This, I believe, is why I didn't get past Unit 3 of Code Year. (via Pearl Brilmyer)

    May 15, 2012
cs115
It assumes that coding is the goal. Software developers tend to be software addicts who think their job is to write code. But it's not. Their job is to solve problems. Don't celebrate the creation of code, celebrate the creation of solutions.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
  1. cs115

    cs115 #coding #programming

    July 17, 2012
Martin Hartl
Please don't advocate learning to code just for the sake of learning how to code. Or worse, because of the fat paychecks.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
  1. Martin Hartl

    Martin Hartl Code less, communicate more!

    May 15, 2012
tralafiti
It is obvious to me how being a skilled reader, a skilled writer, and at least high school level math are fundamental to performing the job of a politician. Or at any job, for that matter. But understanding variables and functions, pointers and recursion? I can't see it. Look, I love programming. I also believe programming is important … in the right context, for some people.
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Alex Hübner
Look, I love programming. I also believe programming is important … in the right context, for some people. But so are a lot of skills. I would no more urge everyone to learn programming than I would urge everyone to learn plumbing. That'd be ridiculous, right?
Estimated reading time: 4 min
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