Talking Code: a Viable Skill for Programmers and Entrepreneurs

Many programmers and entrepreneurs fail to realize the immense benefits learning to talk code can have on their careers

In recent years, coding has established itself as a skill that rivals reading and writing in terms of importance. Think about it: While the skill of reading and writing is capable of creating revolutionary works of art, so is coding. The software that powers your mobile phone and computer, the applications that help you pass time and simplify tasks — all are the product of code.

The need for coding will only increase in the coming years as more of our lives move online, so it’s no surprise that so many are investing time and money into learning this kill.

Still, many of these people are uncertain how much of a role coding will play in their careers. Some may see themselves as full-time developers in the future. Others may see themselves as future entrepreneurs that appoint code as the heart of their business.

Regardless of the extent coding is involved in a person’s career, a skill that would be viable for just about any of these people is talking code.

Talking code is the ability to efficiently communicate your software ideas to other computer programmers using language related to code. It makes projects clearer for the programmer, and increases the odds of the buyer receiving software that he or she is happy with.

Talking Code for Future Programmers

If you have any experience with learning a programming language, you know how difficult of a learning curve it is. A good way to accelerate the process of learning, especially in the beginning, is to learn how to talk code.

Knowing how to talk code gives future programmers a general overview of the many different programming languages and how they can work together to build something great. They’re also given an overview of syntax's (symbols and words used for particular languages) and the different components of programming so they know what it takes to build good software.

Learning to talk code provides a good base of knowledge for person for when he or she moves on to learn the more complex, detail-oriented nature of code.

Talking Code for Future Entrepreneurs

In today’s world, countless businesses revolve around the idea of selling software. Whether it’s mobile/desktop applications or browsers-based services, coding has forced itself into the business world — and for good reason too.

It only makes sense that many entrepreneurs are taking on the task of learning how to code. It gives them the ability to develop their own products without shelling out big bucks to high-end developers. They have the luxury of being able to quickly squash any bugs or glitches that may sprout up without relying on their developer to swing to action. And it allows them to have a very hands-on approach when developing their business.

For an entrepreneur, the benefits of learning how to code are abundant.

Unfortunately, some entrepreneurs lack the time, desire and/or motivation to learn to code. Luckily for them, there are other options.

Though not as beneficial as learning to code, learning to talk code is one way an entrepreneur can compensate for his or her lack of coding experience.

There’s a common belief that the best entrepreneur is one who has skill in all facets of a business. That includes accounting, marketing, management and product development — which, in this case, is coding.

Talking code provides you with the (bare-minimum) skill level needed to be knowledgeable in the product development/coding facet of a business. To a developer, you’ll come across as an informed entrepreneur as opposed to an inept customer. That’s the difference between well-made software and useless software.

Talking code even has benefits that learning to code does not.

By learning to talk code, you have no choice but to rely on a developer to get your software built. This gives you time to spend on other areas of your business; time that would otherwise be spent coding. You can work on developing a marketing strategy, setting business goals or acquiring customer feedback — all of which you’d likely have to do on top of coding your product if you opted to do so.

Talk about swamped!

Hiring a professional developer also ensures efficient, bug-free code (for the most part) — provided you hired the right person. As an entrepreneur without significant programming experience, you’ll have difficulty rivaling the code written by a professional developer.

You can eliminate the odds of a self-inflicted screw-up by learning to talk code and efficiently conveying your ideas to a professional developer.

The decision of learning to talk code or learning to code can be a tricky one depending on your circumstance. Each has their respective pros and cons that deserve to be weighed out. The important thing to understand as an entrepreneur is that you have options.

There are an abundance of online resources, such as Code Academy, capable of teaching the average Joe how to code. There you’ll be able to freely indulge in the world of code at your heart’s content. Declarations, statements and classes will no longer feel foreign to you — and you’ll be well on your way to building usable software.

If want to learn to talk code you’ll find that there aren’t as many available resources, but they do exist. One is a free email course that explains the basics of talking code without getting into the nitty-gritty of coding itself.

The options for adapting to this code-filled world are there — and they're abundant in quantity. It‘s simply up to you to decide which one best serves your needs.

P.S. Since there are so many people interested in learning to talk code, I created DontCode.org as a resource to help them out.