Learning to code is still worthwhile
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
The founder of Val Town argues that learning to code remains valuable for educational reasons, not just vocational ones.
Steve Krouse, founder of Val Town, responds to the sentiment that "learn to code" is no longer relevant in the age of AI. He argues that coding should be learned for educational reasons, like math or literature, not merely for a high salary. Krouse describes how learning to code through Seymour Papert's LOGO language helped him master math and meta-skills like debugging and composition. He calls programming a creative and joyful activity, comparing it to casting spells. The dream of universal code literacy persists even with LLMs.
What commenters are saying
Commenters are divided. One camp argues that learning to code will always have value, as fundamentals help you understand and leverage AI better. A sub-camp says the joy of building things by hand is being lost to LLMs, making coding feel less fulfilling. Another camp is skeptical: some compare the "learn to code" hype to suggesting welding as a path to wealth. A practical note: abstractions have always existed, but curiosity to understand lower layers is still valuable when things break. The thread also notes that learning to code can help you think critically and resist propaganda.