This entry is the expansion of a recent thought - why should non-programmers, with NO interest in becoming programmers learn about programming?
Like an owl, I think a lot. Rather too much, as it turns out; sometimes these thoughts lead to odd things, sometimes books (Corporate Software Project Management, among them), othertimes they lead to interesting blog entries. Like this one.
Question : Why would a non-programmer, never planning to become a programmer at any level, even consider learning about programming?
Short Answer : So as not to ger fleeced when dealing with contract programmers.
Longer Answer : Every aspect of your internet and computer life is managed by programmers. For the web, there are HTML progrmmers (quickly becoming XHTML programmers), PHP scripters, Perl coders and SQL gurus. No, I'm not trying to make this keyword-rich. At least not unnecessarily so.
Then there are the various C/C++ programmers, .NET enthusiasts, Win32 programmers, and general software engineers and designers that create the software packages that we know, love, and love to hate. In no particular order.
Furthermore, if you're even remotely involved in programming, web site design, or service provision in an IT structure (that's why you landed here, after all) you are going to engage the services of a programmer at some point. And it's really very easy, if you know nothing about programming, for a programmer to fleece you. Take more money than they should.
So, if you ever needed a reason to learn at least the fundamentals - there you have it. To top it all : you've come to the right place.
