PROGRAMMING: First, learn how things work. IDEs have made it so easy to just click and drag an application on to the screen without having any real understanding of what is actually going on behind the scenes. (...)

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a programmer?

Whohub

First, learn how things work. IDEs have made it so easy to just click and drag an application on to the screen without having any real understanding of what is actually going on behind the scenes.

Second, remember that YOU are not the end user (well, most of the time) so they way you think something should work and the way the end user will expect it to can be completely different. Always keep in mind that you are providing an experience for someone else.