Programming – this word can be a nightmare for many yet the importance of programming can never be overlooked. Almost everything around you including this sentence you are reading right now is because of one of the many reasons – programming.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science. You, while reading this, may think, “He is just vouching for his domain!” and you are right, I am. But I am doing it for a reason, because it is extremely beneficial to know how to write codes. There are many reasons why I am urging people to learn how to code. I am going to jot them down in the paragraphs to come.
Firstly, programming makes you think. Every time you encounter a question or a problem, you try to come up with an algorithm to make your life easier. It is a very important skill these days to have a firm grip on algorithms; even better when you can back up your skill with the knowledge of programming. Whether you are sharing a picture of yourself pouting on Instagram, or downloading an eBook, or ordering gadgets on Amazon, or even looking for a date or potential bride/groom online according to your interest, these are all reality today because someone learnt how to code. And the joy you get when your program runs is as much as getting the right answer while solving a puzzle. Programming is like using a methodology and framework to solve a problem.
Secondly, programming is a commonplace today. From military to healthcare, an infant to a senior citizen, everyone is reaping the rewards of programming. So many things that are automated these days would have been a laborious task if not for programming. Hence, if you are someone not from CS/IT background, you may ask this question, “Why should I learn how to write codes?” Well, you do not have to do it as a compulsion, but the optional interest may give you an edge over your peers.
Thirdly, programming gives you an edge over others. During my master’s in Germany, I met people from different backgrounds who have admitted how learning code took them to another level. I know physicists, biologists, management folks, mechanical engineers, and many others, who know the basics of programming. Sometimes, students abroad look for part time jobs. It goes without saying that coding jobs will always be there. I know a few people who struggled to get jobs because they did not know how to code. I know biotechnologists who use R/Python, mechanical guys who use Java/MATLAB, and so on. A neighbor of mine studying Economics knows to how to code. All these people definitely are ahead of those who do not have this knowledge.
Here is an interesting article from Harvard: https://hbr.org/2013/09/should-mbas-learn-to-code
Here is a link to another initiative supported by the brains of Facebook, Google, Microsoft and others: https://code.org/about
There are tons of tutorials out there online. So, go learn how to write code depending on your domain. Learn C or C++ or Java or Python or R or whatever you want to. It can definitely not do any harm to you. It will only make you better. Who knows, a piece of code may one day take you to the place where you always wanted to be!
Ankur Sinha is currently pursuing Master of Science in Informatics at the Technical University of Munich. He has worked as a Research Assistant at the Data Mining Research Group of TUM and is currently working as a part time web developer at Bet It Best. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from SRM University, Chennai. His hobbies includes cooking, writing and traveling.