what to teach a youngster
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Well... Don't try to force any particular language onto your son. Remember that programming languages can be difficult to learn at that young age and if you push him in one particular direction he might end up not likeing that.... perhaps just some basics of programming.. explaining about how programs work, the difference between the different type of programming and so on. Then try introduce him to one or more. Regards, Brian Dela :-)
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Brian Delahunty wrote: onto your son. not my son:confused:, i'm too young for that, just a young friend!:) but still, in which language should i show him examples?
Brakanjan wrote: but still, in which language should i show him examples? I would highly recommend that your friend is introduced to HTML before attempting a programming language - I started out with writing HTML (and I mean by hand - i./e. actually with a pen and paper) and it was that that got me hooked on making computers do stuff. It may sound an odd way to approach programming, but it does introduce you to some important ideas that can easily be carried through to learning and applying a programming language.
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
Pro wrestling is entertainment for the unentertained unentertainable.
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I want to introduce my 13 year old friend to the art of programming, but ain't really sure what language he should learn first. i have often been frustrated that i didn't learn c++ before pascal, although i heard that pascal is better to teach firstup because it is more structered (in terms of variable declarations, etc). don't think i should show him delhpi or VC or VB, otherwise he'll just be making interfaces the whole day and never program. any comments?
He'l probably be better off with an interpreted language, as they have a quick write->run->playwith cycle. Python is a very well thought out scripting language, and has plenty of libraries to play with. Nice built in hashes and lists and pretty reasonable OO compared to Perl, VB6 etc. Ryan Computers allow you to make more mistakes than any other invention, with the possible exception of handguns and tequila.
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I want to introduce my 13 year old friend to the art of programming, but ain't really sure what language he should learn first. i have often been frustrated that i didn't learn c++ before pascal, although i heard that pascal is better to teach firstup because it is more structered (in terms of variable declarations, etc). don't think i should show him delhpi or VC or VB, otherwise he'll just be making interfaces the whole day and never program. any comments?
Jeezzz I was doing Z86 at 12. So don't be afraid to teach Perl : fast and effective shit.:cool:
sometimes it helps to look at the IL generated code a MS guy on develop.com "answering" .NET issues
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I want to introduce my 13 year old friend to the art of programming, but ain't really sure what language he should learn first. i have often been frustrated that i didn't learn c++ before pascal, although i heard that pascal is better to teach firstup because it is more structered (in terms of variable declarations, etc). don't think i should show him delhpi or VC or VB, otherwise he'll just be making interfaces the whole day and never program. any comments?
There was a good thread on this subject last week.[^]. Javascript seems like a good choice to me - it's free, and it has a syntax similar to C++ - followed by Java, which is also free but adds much more capability. From there, the step up to C++ would be much less a shock than jumping into it from a Pascal background. Word of the day: Rotundacrat
Extra Credit will be awarded for: Quasimobo... -
I want to introduce my 13 year old friend to the art of programming, but ain't really sure what language he should learn first. i have often been frustrated that i didn't learn c++ before pascal, although i heard that pascal is better to teach firstup because it is more structered (in terms of variable declarations, etc). don't think i should show him delhpi or VC or VB, otherwise he'll just be making interfaces the whole day and never program. any comments?
Assembly. If he doesn't grok it at the age of 13, he never will :) Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com
*** Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere. ***
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I want to introduce my 13 year old friend to the art of programming, but ain't really sure what language he should learn first. i have often been frustrated that i didn't learn c++ before pascal, although i heard that pascal is better to teach firstup because it is more structered (in terms of variable declarations, etc). don't think i should show him delhpi or VC or VB, otherwise he'll just be making interfaces the whole day and never program. any comments?
Logo! seriously. IMO, the first thing you should learn is the idea that you can tell a computer to follow a set of steps. it demystifies the computer somewhat. -c
All you have to do is tell the people they are being attacked, and denounce the opposition for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. -- Herman Goering, on how to control the public
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Brian Delahunty wrote: onto your son. not my son:confused:, i'm too young for that, just a young friend!:) but still, in which language should i show him examples?
Sorry.. My brain just isn't working properly today! Regards, Brian Dela :-)
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Logo! seriously. IMO, the first thing you should learn is the idea that you can tell a computer to follow a set of steps. it demystifies the computer somewhat. -c
All you have to do is tell the people they are being attacked, and denounce the opposition for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. -- Herman Goering, on how to control the public
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Assembly. If he doesn't grok it at the age of 13, he never will :) Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com
*** Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere. ***
Tomasz Sowinski wrote: grok Been a while since i've heard that word. :) BW {insert witty/thought-provoking saying here}
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Ahhh.... the days of The Turtle. fd 50, rt 90, pu, bk 50, etc. :-D That's how I learnt the concept of functions (procedures and superprocedures in Logo), among other things. Made learning Pascal and C/C++ much easier.
I think either Turing or C. Have him write some simple programs in either language. Don't get him into OO until he has C under his belt :):):) I'm new here, pardon the n00bing
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I want to introduce my 13 year old friend to the art of programming, but ain't really sure what language he should learn first. i have often been frustrated that i didn't learn c++ before pascal, although i heard that pascal is better to teach firstup because it is more structered (in terms of variable declarations, etc). don't think i should show him delhpi or VC or VB, otherwise he'll just be making interfaces the whole day and never program. any comments?
id go for C#, thats where i started :)
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Sonork | 100.21142 | TheEclypse -
Brian Delahunty wrote: onto your son. not my son:confused:, i'm too young for that, just a young friend!:) but still, in which language should i show him examples?
I agree with David's suggestion of HTML. He'll get the feeling of it somewhat, plus I'm sure he has surfed around the net, and if he's interested he'll want to try implementing things he's sees elsewhere. Leading him naturally into JScript, CGI, perl, maybe even SQL, or whatever.... BW {insert witty/thought-provoking saying here}
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I want to introduce my 13 year old friend to the art of programming, but ain't really sure what language he should learn first. i have often been frustrated that i didn't learn c++ before pascal, although i heard that pascal is better to teach firstup because it is more structered (in terms of variable declarations, etc). don't think i should show him delhpi or VC or VB, otherwise he'll just be making interfaces the whole day and never program. any comments?
In your case I would begin with something easy like BASIC, then continue with PASCAL to teach what pointers and memory managment is, continue with C to show the power of the language once known the philosophy. Next, knowing C the jump to C++ is smaller even if the philosophy of OO languages seems to me easier to understand than sometimes procedural ones. The one who isn't misanthropist when 40 years old never loved human kind Qui n'est pas misanthrope à 40 ans n'a jamais aimé les hommes Nicolas De Chamfort (1740-1793)
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There was a good thread on this subject last week.[^]. Javascript seems like a good choice to me - it's free, and it has a syntax similar to C++ - followed by Java, which is also free but adds much more capability. From there, the step up to C++ would be much less a shock than jumping into it from a Pascal background. Word of the day: Rotundacrat
Extra Credit will be awarded for: Quasimobo...I'll second that. Javascript has an uncomplicated C-like syntax (useful if your youngster later decides to learn a real language), simple objects, it's interpreted, so no compile-link cycle, it can be used anywhere notepad and IE are installed, and - best of all - it's not BASIC. :) Shog9 ------ Crazy lady with the shiny shoes, where are you? Kick your feet and calm the space that makes you hollow
Live, Insomnia And The Hole In The Universe
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In your case I would begin with something easy like BASIC, then continue with PASCAL to teach what pointers and memory managment is, continue with C to show the power of the language once known the philosophy. Next, knowing C the jump to C++ is smaller even if the philosophy of OO languages seems to me easier to understand than sometimes procedural ones. The one who isn't misanthropist when 40 years old never loved human kind Qui n'est pas misanthrope à 40 ans n'a jamais aimé les hommes Nicolas De Chamfort (1740-1793)
I agree with the Basic idea - especially for the way file systems work, etc. However, to spice it up, teach him some HTML - I have found that kids respond amazingly to making their first web page, and suddenly can't get enough of computers once introduced to this fun. :cool: The following statement about your geekness is true.
The previous statement about your geekness is false. -
I want to introduce my 13 year old friend to the art of programming, but ain't really sure what language he should learn first. i have often been frustrated that i didn't learn c++ before pascal, although i heard that pascal is better to teach firstup because it is more structered (in terms of variable declarations, etc). don't think i should show him delhpi or VC or VB, otherwise he'll just be making interfaces the whole day and never program. any comments?
C++, without question. You don't have to get to OOP right away. C++ allows you to run the whole spectrum from simple to expert. IF he starts getting the hang of it, he WILL start asking questions that will lead to C++ concepts. I wouldn't even bother with cout--stick to straight procedural programming. Every programmer should understand puts and printf. (This method is also great to help him learn debugging, something far too many students aren't taught and never learn.) One of my greatest frustrations in learning Basic on an Apple ][ (in High School), was how quickly I ran into limitations. Within a year, I turned to 6502 assembly so I could make the computer 'dance.' (Years later this came in handy when I was hired to write Apple ][ games in 6502 assembly for my first professional programming job.) To prevent him getting bogged down with all the fluff (dialog box editors, etc.), start with console apps, though I wouldn't bother with the intricate console control stuff. On the other hand, some fluff is needed to keep him engaged--to let him see the possiblities and aim for them.
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Brian Delahunty wrote: onto your son. not my son:confused:, i'm too young for that, just a young friend!:) but still, in which language should i show him examples?
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I want to introduce my 13 year old friend to the art of programming, but ain't really sure what language he should learn first. i have often been frustrated that i didn't learn c++ before pascal, although i heard that pascal is better to teach firstup because it is more structered (in terms of variable declarations, etc). don't think i should show him delhpi or VC or VB, otherwise he'll just be making interfaces the whole day and never program. any comments?
I made my first programming steps with Visual Basic. But after about two weeks I got the opinion that VB is totally crappy, I didn't like its syntax and so on. That's why I don't like Delphi as well, although it is a very powerful language. So after two weeks of VB I settled to (MSV)C++ and that's the best descision I made in my whole progamming career :rolleyes: :-D regards Greg
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tx guys, i like the html idea, and logo. assembler won't work, 'cause i have to understand the language myself...! X| is logo shareware? can't remember...
here's a free logo interpreter: http://www.softronix.com/logo.html -c
All you have to do is tell the people they are being attacked, and denounce the opposition for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. -- Herman Goering, on how to control the public