The Peasants of Code
thebaffler.com
thebaffler.com
I would like to push for a different outcome, although I'm not sure that it's really feasible.
If computer skills become ubiquitous the common SaaS type businesses could become obsolete. To be honest, I can't name a web app offered today that presents any technology that hasn't been around for at least 20 years. The technology 20 years ago wasn't as user friendly nor did it have the adoption rates seen today, but nothing new has been invented only refined.
The only exception is that there has been major advances in surveillance and the monetization of attention. Although the monetization of attention is nothing really new; I mean there is a reason that the phrase "to pay attention" exists.
If IT education was ubiquitous, Atom feeds and Jabber could replace facebook and other technologies could displace other major tech firms.
Over the years and having learned a bit more about the skepticism behind SV & U.S. government's motives, I can't help but be concerned for myself -- and for others, who are banking on coding and tech jobs to help rise up from economic inequality. Perhaps my second, non-STEM degree might serve as a better backup than I thought. :/
I know these concerns aren't baseless, but could this be a possible overreaction? I'd be grateful if anyone could elaborate against what the author proposes, and give a full picture of the other side of the debate.
1. A coal seam is discovered, mines are struck. Skilled miners can expect high wages, since there is a labour undersupply.
2. Mining companies move to adress this, both using automation, and bringing in more miners.
3. Wages plummet as a result of the above. Meanwhile, the mining company is ever more profitable as it increases its revenue.
4. Coal miners unionize, thereby stabilizing wages.
So as it stands, the software industry is between 1 and 2. There was a severe shortage of labour in the 90s, as the computer industry exploded. Now, there still is, but not to the same extent.
The tech companes have follwed number 2 to the letter - both in pushing programming training to governments (for much the same reasons that mining companies opened schools), and in investing in better automation - better tooling, better languages, and so on.
So, all programmers have to do is to do number 4. If they're successful, programming will become an industry like mining - steady jobs that people enjoy. If they're unsuccessful, programming will become a job like retail - badly paid, unsteady, stressful.
This description of mining seems, at best, a few decades out of date.