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by AJ007 4280 days ago
There are some interesting challenges.

An entry level software developer with bare bones skills could be worth around $4 an hour outsourced? An individual in the first world, to command a large wage at this skill level is either fooling the employer or is strong in other areas: communications, management, design, etc.

With no data to back up my opinions, I feel like the best developers are very sharp to begin with and also highly self-motivated. They don't just take a course, they end up developing the new technologies and teaching others. If you take someone who isn't particular sharp, and has an average level of motivation, what will a coding class do for them? Will they even recall what they did? If they end up with just the bare bones skills you can't hire them because the market wage is illegal in the first world.

On the flip side, things like Code Academy would be great for grade school and high school. When I was 12 or 13 I tried learning C++. Text editor, no color syntax, b&w print book, it was a total flop.

Code Academy would have been great. Hell, even YouTube would have made a world of difference. (Also learning to use complex software like 3DSMax was a joy reading text descriptions of menus, hardly any screenshots let alone video walkthroughs.) I have little sympathy for people who complain while being hand held through learning a skill today -- programming, cooking, whatever. Such a vast library of free information compared to 15 years ago..