[mb_72]

As a beginner to programming I had enough self-awareness to realise that my achievements were of little to no interest to those with more ability and experience, and certainly would not have been worth publishing in a magazine (as the equivalent would have been at the time). This is 'Hacker news' - but these days the word 'Hacker' has been diluted in meaning to something that doesn't really mean 'hacking' any more.

The car metaphor is not a valid comparison - we are not talking about the operation of a tool, but gaining of skills in an area that requires both natural and learned abilities.

[iamwil]

I think you identify as a programmer and hacker, and things that encroach on that identity--such as beginners doing html/css calling it programming--causes you discomfort. And that blinds you to the interesting things about this.

Of course it is. Driving is a skill. You only consider driving the operation of a tool rather than a skill because its accessibility is so good.

[mb_72]

It causes me discomfort, yes, because if a beginner over-estimates what they are doing then they are in for more disappointment when they discover what they are really doing.