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- September 28th, 2011
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Today in the elevator I overheard a conversation between two guys who work at the start-up we share space with. One of them was talking about how his daughter is a PoliSci major but is learning some basic HTML, to which the other guy replied something along the lines of “that’s a great skill to have if you want a huge salary later.”
Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he didn’t really mean a huge salary, but was using it as a stand-in for “a good job.” But even that is really underselling the value of understanding some basic programming.
Being able to write enough code to get something online means that you can create something independently. Whether it’s making something you can sell, a service you can provide, or simply just in expressing yourself by making a platform for your ideas, knowing some code is equivalent to independent publishing. Cheesy example, but it’s like having your own printing-press in pre-internet days.
There are services that offer ready-made solutions for these needs but you’re back to relying on someone. I’m by no means a developer, but teaching myself mark-up because I wanted to build myself a portfolio was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I always say that if you can make something yourself, you’ll never be out of work.