— Photo: Collected Software and IT-Enabled Services industry in Bangladesh has been on the rise with a growth rate of over 40 per cent in the recent years. In this technology driven setting, the importance of learning to manipulate computer languages should not come as a surprise. However, the value of learning to code is not limited to IT sector only, rather it is a skill that can be really important for people of all lines of work.
Learning programming can help an individual get an edge in the high demand market as well as condition him/her better for the professional life no matter what path he/she chooses to take. The discussion of the importance of learning to code, hence, can be divided into four broad categories.
High demand tech industry
Understandably, the technology industry worldwide is a high-demand and flourishing one. Having a solid grasp on computer languages makes one's search for job a lot easier. According to Glassdoor, in the US, eight of the top 25 jobs in 2016 were in the line of technology. And what is more important is that coding jobs are increasing 12 per cent faster than the market average. At present, there are hundreds of computer languages that are used in different systems and applications. Jobs are abundant and salaries are sky-high.
In Bangladesh, there is an acute shortage of skilled coders. Specially, for the new technology based businesses, finding good programmers is quite a challenge.
Demand across all industries
Not just in the technology sector, but across industries there is an increasing number of businesses relying on computer code. According to a report from a job market analytics firm called Burning Glass, there were as many as seven million job openings in the US in 2015 in occupations that required coding skills, and interestingly, half of the openings were outside the line of technology such as finance, manufacturing, healthcare etc. In Bangladesh also, the scope of applying in computer language skills extend across various sectors and not just limited to technology companies. For instance, many RMG companies and financial institutes look for customised solutions for their business when the global solutions do not always match the requirement or budget.
Cognitive development
Computer programming helps develop higher mental functioning. Coding involves interpreting and simplifying a complex problem, thinking logically, and coming up with a solution. It enhances a person's critical thinking ability and problem-solving skills which directly improves a person's chances of success in education, job, and everything in life. Computational thinking is applicable and useful in day-to-day life and for professionals who are far from tech related occupations. The study of computer languages helps to find new methods and solutions to problems, no matter what discipline they fall in, be it is natural science, social science, sociology, manufacturing, business or health care.
Enriching children's overall development
Apart from the obvious benefit of landing high paying jobs, lessons of programming in the childhood can enhance a child's creativity, problem solving, and communication skills. Coding forces to collaborate with other people and solve problems effectively and efficiently. It helps them develop their imaginative skills, tackling challenging problems help them develop their persistence as well. The problem-solving skills that children learn help them in their future life as well. Breaking up a complex problem into a series of smaller steps and then logically designing a programme that solves them can get them into developing a habit that can be applied to virtually every problem in life. Additionally, kids who are exposed to coding from a young age retain a competitive advantage over their peers when applying to college, jobs, and internships.
Following are some of the major programming languages and their specific utility in the industry:
Python: This is one of the most commonly used languages, and also a very user-friendly language. From deep learning applications to creating video games, it is extensively used.
Javascript: This is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web alongside HTML and CSS, used in making almost every commonly used website such as Google and YouTube.
SQL, Oracle: These are extensively used in data analysis and business intelligence.
SAS, R: These are very popular and useful languages in the realm of statistical computing and data analysis.
Java: This is a general purpose programming language and is used in hundreds of different applications and is also used in the back end of various popular websites such as Google, Amazon, and Twitter.
C and C++: C is perhaps the oldest programming language. Many of the other languages came from C. C and C++, an enhanced version of C, both are extensively used in making operating systems and applications where performance is a critical issue.
Apart from being a high demand skill that can land an individual a high paying job, it opens up the opportunity to apply the problem-solving skills beyond computers. So regardless of occupation or age, the skills of coding will definitely help anyone improve in life.
The writer is a student of BBA programme at IBA, University of Dhaka.
He can be reached at
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