Hacker News Reader

Comment by bronbron | Hacker News Reader

Programming's not a panacea for everyone's problems, you know?

I mean, I get that you're just coming from a place of decency and trying to help, but suppose tomorrow every unemployed person decides to become a programmer - does that really help? Or does it just make the market for programmers worse?

I get that you're trying to help, but there are systemic problems to be resolved here.

View on HN

> Programming's not a panacea for everyone's problems, you know?

Yes, I do. Obviously (and, from a selfish perspective, thankfully) not everyone is inclined or able to learn programming.

I'm more interested in how counter-cyclical programming is. Does it allow you to weather a tough labor market, or are young developers seeing similar difficulties in Europe?

You can find work as a young programmer, but the wages are way lower than before. $7/hour as a programmer with a BS is no fun. Before the crisis, a college grad would expect at least 3 times more in Spain, but I know a few experienced programmers who left Spain because they could not find any kind of job to pay more than €1500-2000/month.

Learning to program is always an option for anyone with an internet connection. It beats spending six years and $100,000 on a sociology Masters and then stocking shelves like the women in the article.

Speaking of which, these characters kinda deserve their fates by choosing such pointless career paths. Hopefully others will learn from their mistakes.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com