The Real Reason Why Everyone Must Learn To C.O.D.E

“Everyone in this country should learn to program a computer, because it teaches you to think.” — Steve Jobs

Did you ever think about what Steve Jobs was trying to emphasize with this sentence?

Is it about code writing?
Should everyone write code?
Should everyone be a programmer?

NO. Not at all.

The Problem With the “Everyone Should Learn to Code” Movement

The “everyone should learn to code” movement is wrong because it assumes that writing code is the final goal. Everyone — including most software developers — thinks that their job is to write code. But actually, it’s not. The job of a software developer is to solve problems. It took me years to understand that.

Most people who call themselves programmers can’t even code. Tragically, a bunch of them are not even aware of what their job is really about. Because of this, many software programs have short lifespans. Why? Well, they have been developed as a solution for a specific problem, but now they can’t even solve that problem because of the programmer’s work. In the end, the program dies.

If you talk to senior programmers, I mean real programmers, ask them what they think about writing code. They will tell you that the best code is actually no code at all. They’ll say a good programmer is the one who knows how to avoid writing unnecessary code lines.

The “everyone should learn to code” movement is not about coding. It doesn’t mean that everyone should be a programmer and develop software that people can use.

Essentially, it’s all about problem-solving.

Why Is Programming All About Problem-Solving?

Programming is really about problem-solving because programming covers a whole range of skills that have real-world uses. Critical thinking, problem analysis, problem-solving, logic, and etc. These are skills the current generation of kids seems to be missing out on in their education.

I am not saying that we shouldn’t teach our kids how to code or that no one should learn to code. I am trying to emphasize that coding is just a tool to solve a problem. Yes, programming can teach you how to think and how to approach a certain problem. But being a programmer is a completely different thing.

I would rather call this movement “everyone should learn how to solve a problem” instead of “everyone should learn to code.”