[Steven_Bukal]

This article is very silly. Complaining that software has gotten easier to use but programming remains difficult is like complaining that cars have gotten easier to use but automotive engineering remains difficult. The design and construction of an end product is not the same as the end product itself. Product like cars and software can be made much easier to use over time with better design and technology. It's not obvious that the design and construction of these things itself can be.

Many people have tried to achieve this and will continue to try - look at light table and Apple's playgrounds for recent attempts. But these 'revolutionary' 'accessible' programming tools have never delivered on their promises. This is something Fred Brooks predicted in the 80s. Much of what makes programming hard is essential complexity inherent in the problem to be solved. Improving our tools and processes is a good thing, but there are no silver bullets when it comes to improving programming productivity.

[dllthomas]

Design and construction of the same thing can be made easier. But we aren't happy using the same thing. Pushing the envelope will always be comparably hard, because the envelope expands at about how hard people are able to work.

[estraschnov]

You're very right. Many people have tried, and haven't succeeded yet. But is it a reason not to try again? I think that way of thinking is very sad for an engineer... Our job is precisely to make things that look impossible possible, isn't it?