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And these quotes...

A former coal miner who becomes a successful developer deserves our respect and admiration. But the data suggests that relatively few will be able to follow their example. Our educational system has long been producing more programmers than the labor market can absorb. A study by the Economic Policy Institute found that the supply of American college graduates with computer science degrees is 50% greater than the number hired into the tech industry each year. For all the talk of a tech worker shortage, many qualified graduates simply can’t find jobs.

But coding is not magic. It is a technical skill, akin to carpentry. Learning to build software does not make you any more immune to the forces of American capitalism than learning to build a house. Whether a coder or a carpenter, capital will do what it can to lower your wages, and enlist public institutions towards that end.

Of course its about driving down wages. Even though the H1B have completely hammered the field, you can never have enough fresh young meat for corporations to exploit. They have been selling the streets are paved with gold for programming since the 80s. And thats what this teaching kids to code thing is about.

Its not new but here is the reality - the job market for programmers today is much tougher than it was in the 80s. The market is really saturated because of the H1B. There is no shortage of anyone that does anything now. 

What I find interesting is that there is a complete disconnect between what the media says the programming field is versus what its really like. They are selling the streets are paved with gold but after people go to school they discover its not. I know tons of young people who went to school and than bailed out of it after spending a long time unemployed.

Frankly you are better off going to college and than going to learn a trade like plumbing or electrical. There is signficant barriers to entry due to the licensing - that is if you want a licensed plumber or electrician.

Quote from: ilconsiglliere on October 02, 2017, 03:38:24 am

What I find interesting is that there is a complete disconnect between what the media says the programming field is versus what its really like. They are selling the streets are paved with gold but after people go to school they discover its not. I know tons of young people who went to school and than bailed out of it after spending a long time unemployed.

Exactly. That's what I meant. There's a common assumption that programming creates career momentum and is well respected. Nothing is farther from the truth.

Saying you're a programmer in most business environments is about as powerful as saying that you know how to handle a hacksaw or a wrench.

Actually its worse because in most business environments they regard IT people as unnecessary evil to be downsized at the first opportunity. Nobody in business likes IT people and that includes the IT companies.

Take a look whom the executives are in most of these companies - they NEVER come from IT even in technology companies. The vast majority come from marketing, finance and legal.

You are better off handling that hacksaw or wrench. At the very least you know how to get rid of stuff .