10 ms·

Agree. It's hard to imagine someone is going to be a great programmer if they've never given any hobbyist or intro coding a shot.

Travis 16y ago
Are you really suggesting that the majority of people who have not coded have no shot at becoming a great programmer? What if they're 5 years old? Then what's the difference between being 5 and being 20? Seems very elitist to eliminate people based on the fact that they simply haven't been exposed to a field.
- SHOwnsYou 16y ago
  I think you've missed the point. The topic outlines the person in question is interviewing for a coding job. If you come into an office looking for a coding job, but have never attempted to program before, you have not shown any level of commitment to the job of being a coder.
  - Travis 16y ago
    Gotcha. It's more of a signaling mechanism, rather than a generic way to identify coders at an early stage. What do you identify with programming potential outside of a hiring context? I've been working with my friends to get them programming (it's the single most valuable skill a person can have in this age). I know that I can help them most by identifying their positive traits (and just pointing these out can reinforce those traits). So what do you think I should look for and "amplify"?
    - SHOwnsYou 16y ago
      Before you start trying to get your friends to learn how to program, make sure they are interested in it first. I know several people that got into programming, hated it, but stayed involved anyway solely for the money -- They rarely like their jobs. With that out of the way, I think the two most important traits are curiousity and good problem solving skills.
- petervandijck 16y ago
  "Then what's the difference between being 5 and being 20?" -> you're not hiring a 5-year old. If you're old enough to hire you, you're old enough to have done some programming. Why would you hire someone who hasn't??
  - Travis 16y ago
    Right, SHOwnsYou pointed that out. I missed that the original context was hiring, and inserted the context that's relevant to me (my current situation).

Travis 16y ago

Are you really suggesting that the majority of people who have not coded have no shot at becoming a great programmer? What if they're 5 years old? Then what's the difference between being 5 and being 20? Seems very elitist to eliminate people based on the fact that they simply haven't been exposed to a field.

SHOwnsYou 16y ago
I think you've missed the point. The topic outlines the person in question is interviewing for a coding job. If you come into an office looking for a coding job, but have never attempted to program before, you have not shown any level of commitment to the job of being a coder.
- Travis 16y ago
  Gotcha. It's more of a signaling mechanism, rather than a generic way to identify coders at an early stage. What do you identify with programming potential outside of a hiring context? I've been working with my friends to get them programming (it's the single most valuable skill a person can have in this age). I know that I can help them most by identifying their positive traits (and just pointing these out can reinforce those traits). So what do you think I should look for and "amplify"?
  - SHOwnsYou 16y ago
    Before you start trying to get your friends to learn how to program, make sure they are interested in it first. I know several people that got into programming, hated it, but stayed involved anyway solely for the money -- They rarely like their jobs. With that out of the way, I think the two most important traits are curiousity and good problem solving skills.
petervandijck 16y ago
"Then what's the difference between being 5 and being 20?" -> you're not hiring a 5-year old. If you're old enough to hire you, you're old enough to have done some programming. Why would you hire someone who hasn't??
- Travis 16y ago
  Right, SHOwnsYou pointed that out. I missed that the original context was hiring, and inserted the context that's relevant to me (my current situation).