Come On, Barbie, Let’s Go Coding

Hello Protocols, Packets, and Programs,

In 1959 something was created that would haunt Y2K and that still underpins some of our modern critical infrastructure.

That was the dawn of COBOL.

1959 also brought us something quite different, yet similarly significant to our modern society.

That was the birth of Barbie.

And where COBOL was inspired by the work of a visionary like Grace Hopper, it wasn’t until 2010 that Barbie became a computer engineer.

She did at least have dual monitors and a Tux penguin.

But this weekend’s Barbie movie delivered heart, hilarity, and great dance numbers along with a message that, like with COBOL, women have been part of computing from its beginning –

And everyone should be aware of and take down the barriers that would exclude them from or stereotype them in this industry.


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