Why bother with code?

Code is scary. Code is hard. Code is worthwhile.

In an increasingly technical world, it’s hard to escape the apparent dominance of code—and, more broadly, of thinking technically. But to so many, code seems either too daunting or too difficult to approach. Why is this? Is this view appropriate? Is code really as scary and as hard as we assume it to be?

Through examining my personal and ongoing journey through learning to code, and proposing a question-oriented process, I attempt to break down the myths surrounding code that portray it as an exclusive art. The end result? A reminder that code isn’t particularly special, and that learning it is simply a matter of training ourselves to solve problems, using a new medium.

Originally presented to Sheridan College’s CCT260 and CCT360 classes, in May 2016.

Transcript

1. Why bother with code?
2. Why bother with code? Playing with, failing at, and learning how to code
3. What is code?
4. Code is…
5. Code is… scary?
6. Code is… scary? Code is… hard?
7. Code is… scary? Code is… hard? Code is… worthwhile?
8. Is code scary?
9. 500 000+
10. Major industries embracing tech
11. Movie portrayals of code
12. It’s reasonable to feel that code is scary
13. Is code hard?
14. Code is (literally) an unfamiliar language
15. We try hard to learn, but walk away confused
16. Even with practice, it can be difficult
17. I struggle with
 code, too
18. Is code worthwhile?
19. Yes!
20. Thinking technically is valuable
21. We can solve our own problems
22. We can work with better coders
23. Knowing code enables us to work in a technical world
25. A history of code, play, and failure
26. My own website Slow improvement
32. Work with/for others Always an imposter
40. Personal projects Fun failure
48. What is code, really?
49. VS The Product The Process
50. Process > Product
51. What is code? A problem solving process
52. What are some practical examples of code?
53. Google search
57. Formatting text
63. =
64. = <b>
65. Building spreadsheets
72. Who can code?
74. Only nerds, definitely.
75. Only people gifted with awesome coding power, definitely.
76. BAH.
77. Anyone can code.
78. Anyone can code.
 (If you can
 problem solve.)
79. Anyone can code.
 This is a good thing.
80. Why so many questions?
82. Socrates
83. Socrates: Not just an old dead guy.
84. Questions are key to learning to code.
86. Socrates died for your questions.
87. How do we code?
88. The Process
89. 1. Research
90. 1. Research 2. Explore
91. 1. Research 2. Explore 3. Create
92. The key is iteration.
93. 1. Research
94. 1. Research 2. Explore
95. 1. Research 2. Explore 3. Create
96. Iterate,
 Iterate,
 Iterate.
97. Demo Research, explore, create (and fail!)
98. Why bother with code?
99. Code is scary and hard, but worthwhile
100. Code through research, exploration, and creation
101. Do it again and again
102. Thanks!
103. Thanks! Thanks! lucas@lucascherkewski.com @lchski