Why It's Good for Site Owners to Have
(at Least Some) Programming Knowledge
The more is known about starting, updating, marketing, and customizing a website, the more confidence and control the site owner has and the more likely the site will be successful.
Of course, it is impossible to know or be skilled in everything. And a person has to start somewhere.
It may be sufficient to know enough to get by – familiarity with each aspect of managing a website and a working knowledge of most. Learn more as you go. Hire a professional for the individual projects that require more skill.
Let's talk about why it's good for site owners to have at least some programming knowledge.
-
Knowing what can be accomplished with programming may help you see more possibilities for your websites. The more you know about programming, the more you know about what is possible, which provides information to whatever mental mechanism we have that produces ideas.
Knowing what is possible with programming may also prevent the dismissal of viable ideas because you don't know whether or not they could be accomplished.
One idea may prove to be a key turning point for your business.
-
If you hire a programmer for more complicated projects, a knowledge of programming can help your communication with the programmer and understanding of the programmer's point of view.
A programmer will likely look at things differently than you do. For example, "It shouldn't take long" can mean something way, way different to each of you.
Having some knowledge of what programming is all about, you're likely to have more realistic project expectations.
JavaScript and PHP are both good to become familiar with. Currently, they're used more than any other programming languages on websites.
It is understandable not everybody wants to spend the time learning to program. It can seem such an unproductive project, unless in the learning of it you also create something you can use.
Actually, that is how many site owners learn about programming – modifying or creating software to do something in a custom way.
Learning by doing is a wonderful way to learn. No college degree is required; just type things and try them. Tweak this or that and see what happens.
There are lots of references online. Most programming references I've seen online are fairly accurate. Most also don't cover everything; but generally enough to answer the question.
If you decide not to learn programming, it's a perfectly valid decision. Some people are just too busy, too many projects already in progress. Time is either at a premium or there simply is none extra at all.
Another reason some people decide not to learn programming is because it's a different way of thinking.
Programming is an algebraic, details oriented, way of thinking. Some people are more comfortable with a conceptual, visual, way of thinking.
If you decide not to become familiar with programming, having a programming friend with whom to discuss your ideas with would be a good thing.
Will Bontrager
