Do We Think You Should Learn To Code?

Jan 20, 2025

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For years we've been told that everyone needs to learn to code. As career software people, what are our thoughts on this? Should you learn to code? Is coding the right career for you? In this first episode of a two part series, the panel discusses how they learned to code, whether they think everyone should learn to code, and of course they offer up some unpopular opinions.

And if you're thinking, "I already know how to code", don't worry, this episode contains valuable advice for you as well.

As always thanks for tuning in and happy listening!

Notes & Links:

Ben Eater's YouTube Channel (from 53:00)
John Carmack's Fast Inverse Square Root (from 1:01:47)
- This is actually from Quake, not Doom.
Change Interviews #581 It's Not Always DNS (from 1:04:15)

Chapters:

(00:00) - Intro
(01:33) - How're we doing?
(04:41) - Why did we learn to code?
(06:10) - Why Kris learned to code
(07:44) - Why Ian learned to code
(08:54) - Why Dylan learned to code
(10:36) - Why Matthew learned to code
(14:22) - Computer Assembly Not Required
(16:51) - Tangent: Why Are USB-C Cables?
(17:36) - Should you focus on a specific language?
(22:45) - Do you want to solve problems?
(24:53) - Coding & Woodworking
(27:09) - Curiosity & Itches that need scratching
(31:07) - What do we mean when we say "code"?
(32:34) - You should learn Excel
(39:35) - Coding Is Configuring Computers
(43:32) - Discrete Math, Not Binary
(47:03) - Learn the low level stuff... eventually
(53:42) - The desire to learn
(57:41) - Sidequest: Networking
(01:05:52) - Learning Design & Being Load Bearing
(01:12:10) - Continual Learning
(01:14:33) - What of AI and Automation?
(01:21:49) - Share What You Learn
(01:24:24) - Should You Learn To Code?
(01:24:57) - Teaser: Episode 5 - Is Coding The Career For You?
(01:26:02) - Unpopular Opinions
(01:26:08) - Matthew's Unpop
(01:28:51) - Ian's Unpop
(01:29:29) - Dylan's Unpop
(01:33:52) - Kris' Unpop
(01:36:50) - Tangent: Chopper?
(01:37:27) - Outro

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