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Re:Please don't learn to code by edw519 on Tuesday May 15, 2012 @08:19AM (#3976199)
Programmer Hierarchy:

  Level 0: (Many bosses I have had)
  Level 1: "Hello World"
  Level 2: Does something
  Level 3: Updates a data base
  Level 4: Solves a little problem
  Level 5: Produces value
  Level 6: Sidetracks other programmers to maintain
  Level 7: Provides a platform for other value producers
  Level 8: Solves big problems
  Level 9: Still produces value years later
Everyone should get past Level 0.

If you're going to get to Level 6, I'd prefer you just stop at Level 5.

If you get to Levels 7,8, or 9, thank you.

Re:Please don't learn to code by gaius on Tuesday May 15, 2012 @09:47AM (#3976505)
Classical programmer fallacy: equating cleverness with value.

There are plenty of level 3 cheesy little Access and VB apps that any "serious" programmer would laugh that that are level 5 or 9 on your scale.

Re:Please don't learn to code by Sherlock on Tuesday May 15, 2012 @01:07PM (#3977503)
That's true. This should have two axes (at least). One with "domain specific knowledge" and other one with "programming expertise".

Indeed, when domain experts reach some arbitrary level of programming expertise, many good things may happen.

Re:Please don't learn to code by wildmXranat on Tuesday May 15, 2012 @08:53AM (#3976296)
My first job in this field, without exaggeration: Oh, you can perform skills 1-4, great, welcome to the team and since you're a junior we can give you 35K a year. Sweet. First task, you'll need to level-up to about 8-9 as we need you to architect a Linux application server with a user panel for: hardware monitoring, firewall, application mgmt, network mgmt, license mgmt, application code obfuscation, etc.
Re:Please don't learn to code by jiggy2011 on Tuesday May 15, 2012 @08:42AM (#3976271)
I think I just about managed level 7, I feel ok now.