nature or nurture?

[harryMonster()]

I've been learning java for 12 weeks at uni now, and I've noticed that some people grasp the information given very easily, whereas other people struggle greatly with trying to understand relatively easy to understand concepts.

Noticing this has made me question whether programming is something that can be done to a pro level by anyone, or whether certain "inborn" characteristics are required in order to be a sucess.

Anyone's views on this would be welcomed.

Yours
harryMonster()

[mattg2k4]

I think you're correct. There are some people who can see new programming concepts and immediately integrate it into their programming repertoire, while others must scrutinize the textbook and ask the teacher or friends for help. There is just a logical way to think about and visualize programming that comes easily to some, like me, while others just don't see it. I think it is at least partially inborn, some people are just more logical and mathematical than others.

[not important]

This is true of all "jobs". Some people have a natural insight to things. Anything from physics to making hamburgers. There are always some that it comes easy to.

[james8547]

I'd say a combination of both. I can usually learn a program faster than the rest of my class. I can't say that I was born like this. I remember having a tough time sloving "x+3=-34" in high school algebra. So I had to practice to get better. But, I am always interested in PCs. My dad is a programmer so I had access to one long before the internet or Microsoft became popular (1980s).

[harryMonster()]

some people are just more logical and mathematical than others. [/B]

I actually think mathamatics and programming are far more distinct than is generally thought. I'm terrible at maths, but i seem to be a comparatively effortless programmer. The ways of thinking is, I admit, are linked, but I don't believe that in order to be a good coder you have to be a good mathamatician.

[bonzai]

..."but I don't believe that in order to be a good coder you have to be a good mathamatician."

Well, to be an efficient coder, you need to be good at math. Maybe some things can be written in 4 lines rather than 20. Companies like Google definitely would find math important in a good programmer.

[DragonNOA1]

I was one of the best students in Math in my whole high school. I had A's every semester for four years. In programming BASIC, VB, and C++ I pretty much beat everyone in class on all assignments except this one kid who wasn't the best in school but was a good programmer. I never really liked programming even though I could do it. I was more a hardware person than a software/programmer type. I am very logical and rational in my thinking but programming was never fun for me. Can anyone be a programmer? No, I know that to be a fact. Like 'not important' said, some people are just naturally good, be it basketball, driving, teaching, video games, or programming.