Recently, I read an article with a great title but utterly and completely inane content. Top 10 dead or dying computer skills, which I hesitate to link to because I don't want anybody to read it and lose a few IQ points as a result, purports to list the top 10 skills that are or will be soon obsolete. I didnt know OS/2 was a skill, I always thought it was an operating system. The article pretty much just lists off a bunch of software that is falling into disuse. If the title had been "Top 10 dead or dying software systems" it might have made more sense.
So, I decided, like any good programmer, to invent my own version. There's a great article on the subject that likens the programmer to the blacksmith. I think it's very true. While it sucks that the trade of blacksmithing has been relegated to little more than a hobby, that's just how it goes.
So, here goes:
- Machine code / assembly programming. Yeah, there's still some people doing this, but only in operating systems or compilers. The compiler has nearly completely replaced writing such low level code because it can simply do it better than humans, especially on complex modern CPU's.
- Data entry. The skills associated with specific usage of any piece of software used for entering data of any kind. This includes words, images, music, video, etc. Right now you can find jobs specifically asking for experience with the programs themselves, like Photoshop, or Flash. Not so much anymore do you see them asking for experience with Word, because pretty much everybody knows how to use a word processor. These skills will finally be subsumed by the greater skill sets they are used by, like artist, or musician.
- Computer repair. I had at one time an A+ certification for working with pc hardware. Never really use it much. With people these days moving more to mobile devices like laptops and tablets, which aren't as serviceable as a desktop, the need for repair or upgrades is less and less. Its more like replace now.
- Related to 3: actually "building" a computer from parts. Used to be you bought a motherboard and ram and hard drives and a cool case etc. And you overclocked the CPU and added crazy cooling systems. Almost like making a hot rod car. People still do this of course but the popularity of mobile devices is quickly taking over.
- Related to 4: actually *building* a computer from components, something not a PC clone. You know, chips and resistors and etching circuit boards etc. I still have books from the 70's and 80's detailing how you could make a computer from CPU's and discrete logic. I learned a lot from these. Today young nerds never have to deal with low level mundane stuff like boolean logic and soldering.
- Actually physically removing dead insects (bugs) that were preventing the normal operation of a computer.
- Command line. Yes every computer these days still has a command line, even most tablets and phones based on Linux. But few people use it and the ability to do actual complex tasks using multiple commands and piping and such is limited to a few wizards.
- Needing at least half a brain to use a computer and get on the internet etc.
- Writing using proper grammar and spelling.
- And the top dead or dying skill is programming itself.
