One interesting thing about human language is that words have always meant different things over its grand history. A great example would be the term coding.
These days, coding refers to the task of writing computer code for a program, website, or device. But it has not been the same all these years.
In fact, a brief analysis of the changing meaning of code and coding can reveal some interesting points from history.
Here is a quick overview of what code and coding have meant to human civilization since its humble beginnings.
Meaning of Coding: the Transition
For one, neither coding nor code has meant the same thing over the last century, let alone past millennia.
If we look at the decades leading up to the 20th century, coding refers to the process of creating secret markers to convey information.
These secret markers were called codes, and codes existed across multiple domains.
During these decades, people also saw the rise of coding systems for writing. The multiple options we have today, including the Morse Code, were a result of these times.
So, before the 20th century, coding had a broader meaning.
The 20th Century Coding Revolution
It is evident that the term coding became restrictive following the popularization of computers.
Even though multiple projects existed in the early 20th century, personal computing happened in the mid and late 20th century, attracting a vast user base.
Since then, the meaning of coding/code has only grown broader, but within the domain of tech. Sure, other disciplines like linguistics and sociology use the exact words to mean different things.
But, for the masses, to code is to write in some programming language such as PHP, Java, Python, etc.
These instances have become so common that many schooling systems across the globe now teach coding to primary and secondary-level students.
The increasing popularity of languages like Python has been great in this regard. Students can now embrace the new world of coding and development from an early age.
It must also be noted that coding has become a desirable skill in the world of tech and beyond.
For tech and development professionals, the skill to code has become a necessity. While many supplementary tools, many of which use AI, can help, a core understanding of code/language continues to give people the edge.
Coding Beyond Tech
Yet, in recent decades, we have seen a broadening of the words’ meanings.
For instance, the term coding or code used to mean things restricted to the domain of computer programming. However, we now see the use of code/coding in other domains as well.
As revealed by Private Internet Access (PIA), code is now used by different industries, including architecture, science, government, fashion, and sports.
The power of coding is also used by data analysts, who rely on a variety of platforms, including R.
Within the academic sphere, coding using LaTeX also provides some advantages. Instead of reformatting a paper or thesis for different journals one by one, LaTeX allows for a more time-efficient approach.
So, despite the learning curve, more people are now moving towards native and hybrid coding solutions.
Coding and AI
Like other domains, coding also seems to face the AI revolution.
Thanks to features like auto-completion and error detection, AI appears to change the way people write code. Yet, it poses a variety of challenges in the world of security and privacy.
While AI can help developers find issues within their code, the same can be done by threat actors as well. So, we might need to change the definitions of code from a cryptography point of view.
The Bottom Line
However different the multiple domains become, one needs to see the expansion of code and coding with a lens of optimism.
Doing so shall help us understand where this journey is headed and some steps so that we are not left behind.
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