No, there is a Japanese woman who started learning how to program at age 60, and created her first Iphone app at 80! never is late, if you love it just do it :)

The best thing about programming is that you can learn to code is that age doesn't matter. You can become a good programmer below 10 or above 5 * 10.

I don't think so. I've started in earnest at 41. It probably takes me a little longer to grasp some concepts, and I have other day-to-day things that take up my time so I can't spend all the time I'd like expanding my skills. Still, starting down this path has already created opportunities for me that I didn't have 6 months ago.

In addition, I think we have to adapt to a changing world. If we don't know how to code, our options are going to decrease pretty dramatically in the coming years and decades.

Completely aside from all the practical stuff, I really enjoying creating things that work. I just wish I started learning sooner.

Do you think it's too old? Because if you do, then you might as well hang it up. :)

Otherwise, I'm 47. I attended a bootcamp at 45. It's not magic. It's just a different way of thinking about (and solving) problems.

I'd suggest starting with something like How to Design Programs: ccs.neu.edu/home/matthias/HtDP2e/index.html

It teaches you how to think about programs, and programming, without getting too hung up on the peculiarities of a given programming language. It's a great foundation, and doesn't get sidetracked by all the latest fads.

Once you finish HtDP, you'll be in a good position to start learning all the new-fangled stuff, and be in a great position to evaluate whether a given course, blog post, or opinion is worth your time. That helps separate out a lot of the noise on the internet.

Pick a project. Work on your project. Find a community (like this one!). Participate in it. Quit thinking about your age. It only matters to you. :)

Is 55 too old to become literate, or too old to learn about numbers? I believe you're probably never too old to pick up programming. I think programming is just one step beyond literacy and numeracy on the same continuum, but very similar to both of those. Programming is like learning to use words and numbers together.

Also, you may not realize at first that not all programming is “computer programming”, so you may find that as you learn “computer programming” you will realize the ways in which you have been thinking programatically, and programming for years already without computers!

If you need any encouragement, I'm just a young guy (29) but I'm focusing on learning programming after I already had a career in graphic design, partly just for personal growth and expansion. Living in the small fraction of human history where computers exist and are cheap and available is an amazing gift!

You know what? Humans have learned everything so far because they had a problem to solve. We know how to light a fire, coz we had to keep our ass warm. Same way, if you think you can solve a problem by learning this skill, you will find it far more interesting and appealing. If you are going to take a stroll in the park, then don't waste your time on learning something you'll never use.

if there is a will there is a way

It is better at 55, than never :)

My mother is 56, and is a professor of Chemistry.

I tried teaching a little bit of computer programming the last time I visited her, she initially found it rather hard to pick up, but mainly because of the way I taught it to her. I mean, why the hell would I talk to her about conditionals and for-loop? I switched my methodology and taught it like how I would teach it to someone who doesn't know what for-loops are.

She did find it very interesting to develop static HTML websites, all within five hours. So, nope. It's never too old to learn anything (let alone programming).

With computers however, you need to know the basics of math (and/or science and logic, in general). I found it extremely hard teaching it to my ex-girlfriend who has degree in English Literature, but doesn't really have a strong foundation in mathematics. When I said computers could think only in binary, she was all like what's binary. Fair question, but for me to cover the basics, it's gonna take a while, so I decided to temporarily abandon my efforts to get her into programming.

Don't put mental hurdles in front of yourself. 55 may actually physically (or policy-wise) be too old to do certain jobs like for example, joining Army Special Forces. However, programming is much different and it can be done pretty much until you have passed away as long as you have working hands and a functional brain. Just remember to be patient with yourself. The answer is, can you still learn anything? Do you find yourself learning every? If so, you could still learn to program!

No.

Never too old to learn, but probably a bit more difficulty on average, though individual experiences may vary.

The notion of a critical period, the period after which learning a language natively becomes impossible (Lenneberg, 1967), has been replaced by the notion of a sensitive period, which is much more fluid, individually variable, context sensitive, and based on what languages X, Y and Z are (e.g., Kuhl, 2005). The critical period was observed to be around 6-8 years old, but a sensitive period can account for the fact that grown adults can become native speakers, especially if languages X, Y and Z have similar, overlapping phonologies. See also Finn et al., 2013 for a neural account.

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So theoretically, if you have learned a language or skill that is similar structurally on a neural level, you could pick it up.