Coding, the Powerful Language (transcript)

Transcript

1. Coding The powerful language that everyone can speak Good afternoon. Super brief history of languages 1500+ Modern English 1900+ Modern Chinese, Malay 1600+ Modern Tamil 1000 BC 2017 Languages evolution Old, middle, pre-modern thousand years! Human language has a long history in human evolution. Since thousands years ago, we human talk to another human a common language that we both understand. There are about 7000 languages discovered in the world. Some of them might be forgotten. Some of them are evolving & adapting along with the society advancement. For example, languages like English, Tamil, Chinese and Malay have gone through the a thousand year of evolution, and it form the modern language that we are speaking today. Super brief history of languages 1500+ Modern English 1900+ Modern Chinese, Malay 1600+ Modern Tamil 1000 BC 2017 100+ Coding languages 60 years 1957 First popular modern coding language Languages evolution Old, middle, pre-modern thousand years! Pre-modern coding 1843 - 1957 Now, how about coding languages? When does it form and who invented them? The “pre-modern coding age” start since year 1843. And in 1957, the first popular modern coding language born! The same year as Malaysia Independence Day! It’s call Fortran, and it’s still being used until now. It’s 60 years now since Fortran. There are more than a hundred of new coding languages invented until today. These 60 years is very important in human history. Why do I said so? Let’s us do a test together then we’ll understand
2. why. May I have all of you stand up? May I have all of you stand up? I am going to ask you a series of questions. If the answer to the question is YES, please remain standing. If the answer is NO, please take a seat. And the rest of the questions will be directed to those who are still standing. Can you live a single day 
 without computer, smartphone, tablet, TV? First question: Can you live one day without computer? Which means, no youtube, no online shopping, no Instagram. If yes, keep standing. If no, please take a seat. Can you live without transport for a week? Next question. Can you live without transport for a week? By transport, I mean your car, bus, lrt, flight and boat. Well, you can still walk and cycling if you have a bicycle. Before I ask the last question. I would like to explain why do I ask these two questions & how is it related to coding languages.
3. What happen in these 60 years? PC era 1975+ Internet era 1990+ 1957 First popular modern coding language 2017 smart phone era 2007+ Pre PC era What happen in the 60 years since Fortran is invented? We have gone through different 4 eras. The pre personal computer era is too far away from all of us. It’s the time where we have expensive computer for commercial purpose only. In 1975, the first personal computer introduced. Since then, we have Windows, Apple, CD and software like Microsoft words. That right corner is Nintendo. In year 1990, Wifi is invented and we have something call internet and our our first browser. Website like Facebook, Youtube, Google are burned during the internet era. Few years later, in 2007, the first iPhone hits the market. Then we have android phone, app store, play store and mobile software like Instagram, snapchat and other. What happen in these 60 years? PC era 1975+ Internet era 1990+ 1957 First popular modern coding language 2017 smart phone era 2007+ Pre PC era No coding = no computer = no software Imagine if there are no coding language invented, it would mean there will be no computer and there will be no software. Coding, is the part which bring computer to live and perform the tasks that we want it to do.
4. To make the worse, look at the things around us, From infrastructure like traffic light, To electronic devices like air-cond and washing machine, to machines like photostat or machine that produce our clothes. No coding = no technology advancement All of these are not possible without coding. Because without coding, the washing machine wouldn’t know how to wash your clothes. Can you live in a world without coding? Here comes my last question, can you live in a world without coding? If no, please take a seat. (stop) What is coding? By now, we know the impact of coding. However, what exactly is coding? This is the most common explanation you can find.
5. hello Hello 你好 வண kகm Malay Chinese Tamil Debug. WriteLine (“hello”) Console.log (‘hello’) print “hello” Jiggle it 2s C# JS Python Talking Coding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKhVupvyhKk Coding is like talking. But it’s the conversation between human and computer. The computer understands different languages like C#, Python and Javascript. When we talk to computer, we need to give a set of very precise instructions so the computer knows what to do. The set of instructions is something we call “code” or we call it a program. The computer will take my code, process it and run it. Then you can see “hello” display on screen and jiggle. Coding is more than typing Well, the explanation is correct. However, coding is more than just the action of typing code and giving instructions. It involves a lots of thinking, planning and analytics. Why do I said so? Let’s compare coding with public speaking. coding Public speaking •Title •Research •Structure content •Writing script •Rehearsal •Speak! •Problem •Break down & solutions •Structure program •Writing code •Validate •Run! •Writing code Before public speaking we need to have a title. Then we need to do research on ideas, then structuring the content by sections & paragraphs, writing the script, rehearsal and speak! Let’s look at coding. The coding process starts with a problem that we want to solve. For example, reduce the time for calculation. Then you break down the problem, find solutions – create a calculator software. Then you need to
6. structure the program - how the calculator should look, then write the code, validate and test the program. Then run it! You can see that sit down & writing the code is actually just a part of the process of coding - problem solving, analysing and planning play a rather important roles too. How about you code instead? So now, I would like to challenge you, how about you code instead? Coding for me, is like a magic power that a mortal can learn. It gives me the power to turn nothing into something. It bring impact not only to how I approach a problem but it fuel my inspiration, understanding the impossible. Don’t just play on your phone, program it. - Barack Obama Even this guy say, don’t just play your phone, program it! Because you already have a very powerful computer in your hand, why not utilise it, fully unleash it power? Of course, it’s fair to say that you know how to drive doesn’t mean you need to know how to make a car. I did an interview with a few friends and here’s the top 3 reason we learn coding. Please note that not all of us are working as a Why we learn coding?
 1. 2. . 3. . If you are not convinced yet, I did a survey with my friends who know coding, I summarise their reasons into 3 categories.
7. 1. 2. . 3. . Why we learn coding?
 Have fun & build things The first obvious reason, have fun and build things. During the pre fb era, we have myspace. Not sure how many people see this before. Myspace allow you to customize your profile page with simple code. I want my profile page to look cool, and blinking blinking so I force to code it. I really have fun making my page blink blink, though now I look back, I think it’s ugly, but I have a lot of fun and I am feel really proud at that moment. RM 500+ Mr. Lim’s cheapo version RM 80+ My friend Shang Yi, saw this clock somewhere in Singapore. He likes it. It’s a beautiful words clock, but it cost about RM500. It’s too expansive. So he decides to learn building one himself. From buying materials(you see the Ikea frame), wiring, and writing code. He doesn’t know everything, but he pick up along the way. Why we learn coding?
 1. Have fun & build things 2. 3. . Be lazy & productive Next, to be lazy and productive.
8. http://www.businessinsider.my/programmer-automates-his-job-2015-11/? r=US&IR=T Imagine if your boss pass you a task and you know how to write code to automate that without telling her? There’s this guy, who automate everything at his work that take more than 90 seconds to complete. One of the script he wrote is to send his wife a “late at work” text message if he doesn’t login to the office computer by 9pm. The script will “automatically picks reasons” from a preset list as well. Why we learn coding?
 1. Have fun & build things 2. Be lazy & productive 3. Changing the world If the last two reasons are too small and too personal for you. Here’s the big one, change the world. Learn coding, find solutions to solve the world problems, changing people life. A cancer diagnosis program that help to predict and detect cancer cells. Ride hailing apps like Uber and Grab that change our way of calling taxi. Or changing the world could be also something smaller. An alarm application which wake me up every morning. It changes my life. It save me from not being fired by my boss, not scolded by my lecturer. It really did.
9. I hope you find learning to code interesting now. Sometimes, there are people tell me that “Coding is initiating, but it is not for me”. Some of the reasons, I call them myths. Myths 1. I need to be good in science & math 2. 3. The most popular mythes that I’ve heard of is - I need to be good in science and math. Its true if you are building a rocket because it involve a lot of scientific calculation. However, if you are building a simple calculator or dating app, it might not. Yes, you need to know math to build a calculator, but no need to be super good in that. Myths 1. I need to be good in science & math 2. Coding is for programmer only 3. Coding is for programmer, it’s for computer science student only. Listen, even you learn coding, I wouldn’t want you to become a programmer if that’s not something you wanna be. Because the essence of coding is problem solving and critical thinking.
10. Coding is like drawing, 
 it’s for everyone, 
 it gives you a new perspective Coding is like drawing, it’s for everyone. In fact, our neighbour country president - Lee Hsien Loong, knows how to code. As mentioned earlier, learning to code involve quite a bit of problem solving. (that’s why he can run a country for quite well? :p) Take the coding skill with you, apply it, apply it in the things that you like to do. Myths 1. I need to be good in science & math 2. Coding is for programmer only 3. I am too old to code YOU SERIOUS!?? If anyone of you tell me this, that make me sad. Because most of you are younger than me! https://www.boredpanda.com/81-year-old-japanese-woman-learned- programming-from-scratch-and-just-launched-her-first-game/ This 82 years old Japanese ladies, created her first app at age 81. She bought her first computer at the age of 60. This is how her game looks like. A game for the traditional Japanese Girl’s day. Or if you think you are too young, our government is going to implement coding teaching in all school.
11. Myths 1. I need to be good in science & math 2. Coding is for programmer only 3. I am too old to code All mythes are busted now! So how can we start coding? Start coding •Problem •Break down & solutions •Structure program •Writing code •Validate •Run! Like I mentioned earlier, find a problem that you want to solve, think of the solution, then only start writing code. “Tell me a bed time story” Here is some ideas for your problems – creating a web portal / mobile app for yourself or school club. Creating a simple game like tic tac toe, a smiling m&m dispenser. Or a voice command app - “hello, bed time story”. Take note that you doesn’t need to do this alone, you can learn together with friends.
12. Learning to code is a journey. Learning coding is a journey. It’s not something you can pick up in a day because coding is not just memorising the syntax. It’s a process. It take times to practise, to think and to solve problem. Sometimes you might feel lost. Find a friend, join a community or find a mentor if you need. Take small steps at a time. Technology and coding languages come and go. However, the skill you learn stays. Coding is not the goal, utilise the power of coding to solving problem is. Rest assure, coding is a language that every can speak. It’s not hard, but it’s not as easy as those marketing slogan said - “Learn coding from zero to hero in one day”. Don’t jump into coding because everyone said so. Don’t leave coding too fast because you fail many times. That’s the process of learning. It’s a beautiful and powerful language that everyone can speak, but please be patient. Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist. - Pablo Picasso When you first learn coding, you may see it as a tool – like learning english. You need to learn the rules and syntax like how you need to know grammar, past tense and present tense. Once you get the gist of it, you start writing article and beautiful poems with it - start writing program that solve the world problems. You start to appreciate the powerful & beauty of it. That’s the moment a tool
13. become art. An art that inspire you to be creative and innovative. Here, I will end my talk with a famous quote by Picasso - Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.