Exactly. Yes, coding by itself is useless, but arithmetic by itself is useless by the same token. Both are tools that give you the ability you solve many useful problems.
I think this quote really shows exactly the point you're making.
"I bet there is many an undergrad CS student who doesn’t really understand the algorithm they are trying to write a program for. They read the requirements once, and then begin to code. Code it seems is the only tool at their disposal."
Also, if they don't understand the algorithm they're trying to write a program for, they missed the point of the lesson. This is an education problem, the student probably thinks they're not there to do anything other than get their degree in the easiest way possible, so they find an existing algorithm and copy/paste it. It's the whole reason why in math focused classes, you're instructed to show your work and that it will be part of your score.
In response to the article writer's point, how and why would you teach someone an algorithm without the modern tools to implement it?
"I bet there is many an undergrad CS student who doesn’t really understand the algorithm they are trying to write a program for. They read the requirements once, and then begin to code. Code it seems is the only tool at their disposal."
Also, if they don't understand the algorithm they're trying to write a program for, they missed the point of the lesson. This is an education problem, the student probably thinks they're not there to do anything other than get their degree in the easiest way possible, so they find an existing algorithm and copy/paste it. It's the whole reason why in math focused classes, you're instructed to show your work and that it will be part of your score.
In response to the article writer's point, how and why would you teach someone an algorithm without the modern tools to implement it?