7 reasons to love (and learn) coding

It’s not French, Spanish, or even English. The language on the lips of millions of employers these days is ‘code’ – and the truth is, anyone can grasp the basics. Why not add ‘learning to code’ to your absolutely-have-to-do-this list? 

1. All computers are controlled by lines of code
   They influence every aspect of our lives –  from phones, to cars, traffic lights, and planes. 

2. There are several kinds of coding language
   And they often work together. Thanks to HTML, you can read a blog post like this one. 

3. If you’re logical, you can learn to code
   Donkey, unicorn, horse – can you spot the odd one out? If so, you’ll probably master the basics. 
4. Coding was invented by a woman
   Writer and mathematician Ada Lovelace – daughter of the poet Lord Byron – was the first person to devise an algorithm that could be processed by a machine¹. 

5. Coding jobs are growing 12% faster than others²
   And computer science is now part of the national curriculum³. 
6. It also has its goodies and baddies
   Coders who write malware are ‘hackers’. Those who commit crimes with it are “black-hat” hackers, while those writing programs to protect against malware are “white-hat hackers”.
7. Coding has its roots in gaming
   Apple’s co-founders, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started coding as teenagers when they created the game, Breakout – the games industry is now worth more than the movies industry. 

And that’s where OVO comes in...

We host a free CoderDojo session once a month to teach children programming. Got kids? Then sign them up here for our next session in Bristol. Or find one near you. 

Of course the beauty of coding is that almost anyone can grasp the basics. So if you’re keen to try it yourself, we recommend this introductory course at Codecademy*. 

Happy coding. :-)

 

*Where we link to other sites and resources provided by third parties, these links are provided for your information only. We have no control over the contents of those sites or resources and should not be interpreted as approval by us of those linked websites or information you may obtain from them.

¹https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/explore/eight-cool-facts-about-computer-coding/

²https://www.fastcompany.com/3060883/why-coding-is-the-job-skill-of-the-future-for-everyone

³https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-computing-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-computing-programmes-of-study