How to Become a Computer Programmer, According to People Who Did It linked on About Astounding Scripts

“Programmers need life experience, an appreciation for design, and patience working with other humans. Computer Science degrees prepare you for the abstract, the ideal, in other words, things that never occur in real life.”

I’m going to have more to say about this from my own perspective later, but this UpJourney article on how to be a programmer has good advice, as well as a great quote. It’s useful information even if you don’t want to be a programmer full-time, but merely a weekend programmer.

A computer programmer is not defined by what ‘they know’ but by what they build. — Bryan Osima (How to Become a Computer Programmer, According to People Who Did It)

Not quite quotable, but still good advice, is Reinder de Vries’s bit on mistakes leading to insights. If you can remember to see mistakes as an opportunity to ask “why?” you are on the road to mastering life. “Why didn’t it work the way I expected it to?” is a good question for any mistake, not just mistakes in programming.

It turns programming into a worthwhile life skill, like any other art.