Ask HN: Why haven't you learned to code yet?

Learn to cook instead. You will be happier, healthier, richer, and more attractive, whichever gender you are, or prefer.

See: http://blog.codinghorror.com/please-dont-learn-to-code/

You are quite naive to think every human being in the world must learn how to code in order to earn income.

I don't see where he says or even implies that? He's talking to typical HN users, it seems to me?

The original post is puzzling because, the typical HN user is already able to code, or at least have some awareness or familiarity with it.

Lots of people thought they knew everything when they were 20 years old.

I am bad at managing my time after work. My current job leaves me drained at the end of the day so then I chase after escapes (like gaming or Netflix).

I have a good grasp on HTML/CSS and a bit of PHP and JS, but everything else (despite taking a few C++ classes years ago) feels almost like a brick wall.

I've tried reading up on Swift and some other languages and it just hasn't clicked for me again yet.

I plan on trying and trying, because I would really like to go into either programming or web dev instead of doing support like I am now. It would pay more, be less frustrating, quieter, and more satisfying.

Maybe I'll get there eventually. Trying a few new things online (ebooks/etc regarding Python and other languages). I think it's just not a focused-enough effort from me yet.

TL;DR - I want to learn but I am standing in my own way and still working on that

It might be that you are spreading your efforts out across too many languages. My suggestion would be to try focusing in on one until you feel like you've gained some traction. Good luck.

If you can afford it, start a programming course at a local school. Most of us are not used to online classes and often don't feel the "commitment" with it.

A well structured class will largely help you climb the "brick wall", as some fundamental programming concepts may be hard to grasp at first.

The usual excuses are "i'm too old", "i don't have enough time", "i'm not talented"...

I find this post incredibly insulting. Some people have real problems interfering with their goals. This wasn't a sincere question. It's just godawful, in so many ways.

Seeing this just makes me really angry.

What is your definition of learning to code?

I have learned to code. Just not very well.

That's sorta what happens when you don't follow things to completion. I have a "working knowledge" of C/C++/Java/Python/HTML/CSS/Javascript/jQuery/Bash/Powershell. The problem is I use very few of them daily within my job, and hence the only thing I'd consider myself truly "fluent" in is Bash, with C being a distant second on the level of "I can read it pretty well but I don't actually have to write it".

Hence, whatever else I scrape together in my free time is usually just examples taken from books or e-learning courses, but very few practical examples or projects to reinforce what I've learned.

I mean we literally create something from nothing.

Uh... no, you do not. You might want to consider taking your own advice.

i always divide it into 3 big categories Software development, Web development and mobile development

I'm going to stress my latter statement even more.

My answer will be, I am not interested. Actually, I am decent in front-end coding, but I don't code for living anymore. Instead, I design UX and UI. Why? Because it is more interesting and rewarding for me. If I have a choice to code or design, I choose design.

Hey. A not-so-humble-brag right here on HN!

Learning to code won't get you 60k a year.

I have not learned because I do not know how or what to learn.

There are quite a few other responses in this thread now that show that the OP came across, to say the least, quite intimidatingly, and the wording of the post dramatically oversimplified the complexity of other peoples' lives, and the myriad of factors that would govern such a decision. So, don't feel bad.

That said, you've responded, and your response is valid even if the OP could have been worded a little better. Thus, I reply. :P

What kinds of things in computing interest you? What do you spend most of your time doing? What specific aspects of technology that you['ve] interact[ed] with irritate you the most?

To give some background: I started college as 'undecided' and rode the undecided train to 2 years of literature and philosophy classes which I enjoyed greatly, then I took a programming class (it counted as a math requirement) and it just made sense. I took a few more classes and wanted to get a CS degree but tuition being what it is and me having almost all my Liberal-Arts credits to grad this year that would be a terrible decision for my current economic status.

Now, to answer your questions. If I recall correctly I had a nice introduction to the Java Programming language, saw a few beginner data structures, and did some regular student assignments.

I would not be able to answer what kind of computing interests me clearly. I would have to dwell deeply into some aspect before I decide I have a lasting interest in it.

Most of my time nowadays is spent playing around with different distros and trying to make sense of the linux landscape. Java was OK. These days I played around with HTML,CSS, Javascript but they didn't really fulfill me as much as working only with code so I've been slowly trying to read more C code and I'm making my way through the C Programming Language, a few pages every night at full-concentration mode. The Linux From Scratch project captured my attention a few days ago but I'm still on the fence about how productive that would be, although the idea of seeing how the sausage is made is really exciting to me.

Things I find irritating: -- cluttered UI -- cumbersome/complicated code (I love www.suckless.org and most of the things they do. Because my thoughts when it comes to code and programming are pretty much the same as theirs. I use way too many of their tools (surf, st, etc).

I'm not sure if I'm learning what I should be learning. Ultimately this is a just a hobby to give me peace of mind when dealing with computers. I tend to get side-tracked very easily and doubt my abilities too much. I realized that when I've been trying to teach myself things I tend to read and re-read the basics endlessly because I'm not sure when is the time to move on to more complicated things. I've read the first 10 pages of kernighan and ritchie at least 200 times, I shit you not.

Could you not?

I love your attitude, I'm sure you'll do great but please, don't be so judgmental. Programming is not for everyone, people get older and as they grow older their capacity to absorb knowledge diminishes.