Should We All Learn to Code?

There is a now a boom of initiatives aimed at teaching both grown-ups and children how to code. Coding is not only a must-have skill in today's job market; it is also the modern day language of creativity.

Many of us think that knowledge of computer programming is only of use for those geeks who are going to make a living out of it. However, suddenly, coding has become a hot new skill. Executives are signing up for coding lessons, politicians are calling for it to be taught in schools and start-ups providing coding lessons for young and old are cropping up everywhere. The question remains, however: why should we all learn how to code?

Nowadays, we are all extraordinarily adept at interacting with digital technology. However, this confronts us with an important choice; we can blindly accept and utilise the technologies we are given or we can try to understand them. Whilst many people will opt for the first choice, basic programming literacy can demystify technology and empower anyone who uses a smartphone, tablet or computer. Learning how to code not only makes you respect all of the astonishing accomplishments of programmers before you, but it also can help us to make us more digitally aware and to interact more mindfully with the technologies we take for granted every day.

Coding is also a creative process and an act of self-expression. It allows you to build something out of nothing and realise your creative visions. The potential impact of creations can be enormous as they can now be distributed using apps, websites or even games to millions of people within days. Furthermore, Mitch Resnick from MIT Media Lab argues that coding is a gateway to broader learning.

“When you learn to read, you can then read to learn. And it's the same thing with coding: If you learn to code, you can code to learn,” he says. 

However, even people who are already convinced that coding is an enlightening and empowering skill do not easily take the first step towards learning to code. With countless online interactive resources accessible from the comfort of an armchair, starting to learn is now easier than ever before. Start-ups like Codecademy, Code.org and Treehouse are just a few of the many platforms that provide free online coding lessons. If you are interested in learning how to code, start by reading up on the different computing languages. HTML5 and CSS are highly recommended for starters as they are the easiest and most frequently used languages.

Last but not least, the boom of start-ups teaching people how to code also reflects the current need for high-skilled programmers. The number of programmer jobs in the global IT recruitment market is growing rapidly, with the demand far outpacing the supply. In fact, many city folk are deciding to change careers by learning a programming language; more for the enjoyment and creativity than necessarily the money.