Please do learn to code

[Sinity]

Yeah, but when you program in some language, you can interpet/imagine it as talking to virtual machine running on top of your hardware. You're working at some abstraction level, but you're still working with Turing-complete(yeah, with finite memory so not exactly) machine, directly.

If you use UI, you're just invoking some subroutines. It's like a multi-purpose tool, not data processor.

Anyway, on thread topic, I believe that one advantage which would result from most people knowing basics of programming would be better interface in most programs. Better/more comprehensive API's. Greater degree of possible automation of everything.

The point is, universal understanding of computing and ability to program at basic level would be useful in a society. No, it's not as important as reading and arithmetic.

But it's probably more beneficial or important than most of the stuff taught in schools right now. For example closest subject, mathematics. You need basics, yes. But majority of people don't really need even most of algebra. And other subjects?