[xatan_dank]

True, but what does "writing code" mean? If it means learning some basic JavaScript syntax and writing a small text adventure, that isn't hard at all. Learning the mathematical fundamentals of CS on the other hand is a great deal harder, and getting up to speed with what technologies are considered standard is extremely difficult.

[E6300]

You're not going to learn much CS from a code school.

[sidlls]

Many, if not most, software jobs require very little CS knowledge. At such jobs the ability to compare numbers and read a chart (a matrix of algorithms and data structures vs. time vs. space complexity) will cover almost every possible use case.

"Mid-level development as a skilled trade" jobs, for example.

[elihu]

Right. Most programming jobs aren't asking for 5+ years experience in <some language/framework/library> because they're looking for someone who knows how to balance a red-black tree, they're looking for someone who already knows all the workarounds and kludges you'll need to know to do the work they want you to do.

Learning a programming language is relatively easy. Knowing which of several libraries that offer similar features is the right one for your particular task takes time.

[Apocryphon]

And yet, most software jobs interview for CS knowledge. Maybe there should be code camps for interview CS knowledge.

[sidlls]

Yes, and most of those interviews are terrible.

[E6300]

Agreed, but those skills can be picked up by anyone with the time to attend classes, for free.