How I learned to code in my 30s

Re:How I learned to code in my 30s by brandonmenc on Tuesday June 27, 2017 @10:09PM (#14651214)

When computers were invented, a lot of the people involved were already adults - plenty in their 40s and above. Before home computers, you didn't get to use a computer until your 20s.

Therefore, the first few waves of programmers included a lot of "already olds."

This is always overlooked as evidence that older people can learn to program.

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Re:How I learned to code in my 30s by emodendroket on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @09:27AM (#14653854)

Of course, but they had a strong theoretical background that made it a natural transition. And besides that, nobody would argue that you don't need a fancy medical degree to do medicine because the barber surgeons didn't have one (different circumstances, but I think OK for illustrating the problem with the argument).

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Re:How I learned to code in my 30s by calc_exe on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @11:52AM (#14655182)

The concern I usually hear is not around the learning to program aspect. Instead, it's that fact that almost every other entry-level programmer is a college grad, and that hiring processes will be biased against older candidates.

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Re:How I learned to code in my 30s by ianai on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @01:18AM (#14651863)

And the computer science field branched out of mathematics. The age thing, I think, really is just shortsightedness.

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Re:How I learned to code in my 30s by AstralStorm on Wednesday June 28, 2017 @02:15AM (#14652048)

Actually cheapness. Young employees don't know their value or how to negotiate.

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Re:How I learned to code in my 30s by nstj on Tuesday June 27, 2017 @10:51PM (#14651371)

This is a terrific observation - really should be the top voted comment.

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