Will Programming and Coding Become Standard Everyday Knowledge?
In the contemporary digital age, the integration of technology into everyday life is more pronounced than ever before. Yet, a pressing question arises: will computer programming and coding become standard everyday knowledge in the future?
The Role of Programmers
Programmers play a pivotal role in making technology more accessible to the general public, focusing on enhancing user experience without necessarily requiring the end-user to learn programming languages. It is a valuable skill, akin to understanding algebra, that I strongly recommend everyone engage with through introductory classes. However, it is unlikely that it will become a mandatory requirement for all citizens.
The Waning Demand for Traditional Programming Knowledge
Experiences with more complex mathematical concepts, such as calculus, have historically been challenging for the vast majority. Despite their importance, most people often find themselves struggling to grasp these concepts and often forget how to apply them soon after learning. Programming, whether in spreadsheet usage or basic software interaction, presents a similar scenario. Though widespread, the notion of programming as it is classically understood (i.e., coding from scratch) is likely to diminish in necessity.
The Evolution of Everyday Programming
Increasingly, programming has become more implicit in our daily lives, particularly with the rise of automation and user-friendly interfaces. For instance, virtually every professional field, from finance to engineering, relies on spreadsheet usage and automated tools. However, serious software development or software engineering, while still important, may not require as much explicit programming knowledge in the future. The trend is toward creating software that can handle user commands, like Siri, making it less critical for many individuals to delve deeply into software coding.
The Essence of Programming
Deciding whether basic interactions with technology qualify as programming is nuanced. Inserting numbers into a spreadsheet to compute their sum is indeed programming, but merely using a graphical user interface (GUI) to perform tasks is not. The true essence of programming lies in the composition of simple operations into autonomous processes that can run independently once defined. This prerequisite, while not entirely uncommon today, will certainly not become standard everyday knowledge in the way that basic spreadsheet usage has.
Fostering Simple Programming Capabilities
As a programmer, my goal is to design increasingly sophisticated "primitives" and user-friendly interfaces that enable ordinary individuals to interact more effectively with technology without needing to fully comprehend the underlying programming. The aim is to reduce repetitive and mundane tasks, like clicking through a GUI all day, to simple, efficient software processes. We must work towards making programming more accessible, but it's crucial that we do so in a way that doesn't diminish the complexity and importance of programming as an essential skill.
Conclusion
While programming and coding are far from becoming standard everyday knowledge in the traditional sense, the involvement of technology in our daily lives continues to grow. By focusing on user-friendly interfaces and intuitive automation, we can empower more individuals to interact with technology more effectively. However, this does not diminish the critical role of programming in our society and our ability to create complex, autonomous systems.