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I wouldn't recommend using the C64 as such (and I assume it was a joke). That said, if you're beginning programming, it might not be a bad idea to begin with a beginner's programming language. If you're running MS Windows, perhaps have a look at MS Small Basic. It's a modern beginner's programming language, and there are tutorials and example programs for it.

Microsoft Small BASIC

I learned programming using GW-BASIC when I was 8 year old so I am quite partial to BASIC. SmallBASIC is quite good for teaching kids about BASIC. Rich scope for creating graphics and it has the turtle graphics primitives from LOGO too.

So...which of those titles are included with every copy of Windows?

Why does it have to come with the OS? What does that even matter these days, when everything is a download away.Almost half the products I listed are available direct from MS without going through Dreamspark:

• Robotics Studio
• XNA Game Studio
• Kinect for Windows SDK
• Kodu Game Lab
• Small Basic

Just a simple download away. You can even download Visual Studio Express for free to develop for web, desktop, or Windows Phone. This is a great place for kids to start. When they're ready for advanced features, they can move over to the full version through Dreamspark.

Which of those provide kids with a simple and powerful way to create something impressive?

Take your pick. There's something for all levels. Smallbasic and Kodu Game Lab are products for beginners. Next level up they can use Robotics studio or XNA Game Lab. Kinect SDK is very powerful and easy to use as well with lots of example code.

If Bill Gates was a teenager now, he would be on xbox live and there never would have been any Microsoft.

Many gamers are very keen to make their own games, but they don't know how. MS provides tools for this. I've taught many middle / high school students how to program robots using MS Robotics studio and the Kinect SDK, and they love it. It's amazing the kind of stuff they come up with.

As a job skill, I suggest learning to code even if that won't be your primary focus. As a tech worker, you'll likely have to communicate with programmers, and you'll be much more effective if you can speak their language.

Basic is very well supported in the Microsoft ecosystem, and is friendly to beginners. If you're interested, check out Microsoft's SmallBasic IDE, which is a great tool for learning to program: http://smallbasic.com/

All of the discussion going on about teaching programming in schools is a great new/old trend. Like many posters here, I learned basic programming skills years ago in middle / high school. But then that all changed somewhere along the line.

School technology courses began to focus on turning students into secretaries - students learn Microsoft Office. If you're lucky, they'll teach design skills (PhotoShop, etc.) The other trend these days is about using Web 2.0 to enable collaboration, which is not bad in and of itself, but misses the mark. That's where programming comes (back) in.

There are a lot of great free resources out there. I have taught programming using Scratch to third graders, Microsoft SmallBasic to fifth graders, and JavaScript to ninth graders. There is also GameMaker, which has a free lite version that allows for drag-n-drop game programming. Microsoft also has Kodu, which let's kids make 3D games with a drag-n-drop interface.

A few months ago I gave a TEDxTokyo presentation on the subject (excuse the shameless plug), which you may find interesting, possibly even entertaining...

In HTML, "magic happens" amounts to the name of the function being put in the button's onclick handler.

I see you missed the point. It's still magic. "How does the computer know I pushed that button" is the issue. It's not part of their program, after all.

Really, there's tons of magic-to-the-beginner with html/javascript. Consequently, they don't get that same sense of control like young learners had with BASIC on their micro. Too much is very visibly happening "by magic" to capture that important feeling.

That, of course, and they need tons of background before they can even touch javascript. I taught exactly one beginners programming class with html/javascript and it was a huge mistake. Too much time was wasted on stuff unrelated to programming. It's absolutely horrible for beginners.

Small Basic is the best learning tool I've found so far. It's small, simple, and encourages discovery. The auto complete provides simple descriptions in addition to the word and the sidebar help automatically updates itself according to your cursor position. There are no weird syntax rules to trip you up. They've even changed things like "next" to "endfor" to keep things consistent.

It's not perfect, but it's much better than html/javascript for beginners.

Computer Science electives at my high school started us off with Java, if that says anything about the language's friendliness.

Your HS's choice of language says absolutely nothing about the "language's friendliness".

Java, and most so-called "modern" languages, have way too much "cruft" to be considered beginner friendly. Think back to that Java class -- how much code was written "because you need it" without having the background necessary to understand its meaning?

Voodoo code offers the student nothing but a constant reminder that they just don't understand. It's demoralizing.

A language like BASIC, however, offers no cruft. You can write interesting and useful programs and understand every single line of code. That's empowering.

It's why I recommend Microsoft Small Basic for beginners. It has a fantastic help system, a great PDF tutorial, and the IDE stays out of your way. It's very inviting. Check it out and let me know if you still think Java offers a friendly introduction to programming.

Microsoft Small Basic

It's the best learning tool I've found so far -- it's simple and has an excellent help system. The auto complete has descriptions along side the text (encouraging exploration and discovery), the sidebar help automatically displays help for the current command, and the PDF tutorial is well-designed and simple enough for a bright child to understand.

Some of the changes are a bit odd, but they make sense. Next has been replaced by EndFor, for example, but this does keep things consistent with EndIf, EndWhile, etc.

The program itself is small (6mb download) and incredibly simple -- no weird options or anything to get in the way. It actually makes tools like Scratch look complicated!

Microsoft actually did this one right. I give it my full endorsement.

• Structured
  • no line numbers, no brain damage.
  • Edsger might even like it....
• Interesting sharing mechanism
  • when you 'share' your program you are given a code to give to others so they can download
• I think it even compiles to an exe.... been a while since I have used it.

  • http://smallbasic.com/

There are a lot of curriculum materials that are being used by home schoolers to teach programming and software development at the Microsoft Beginner Developer Learning Center Kid's Corner http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/bb308754.aspx Everything from videos to whole courses for differing ages. You can also find some good curriculum based on Small Basic at http://smallbasic.com/ (see the wiki and tutorial) and http://www.teachingkidsprogramming.org/ I also recommend the CS Unplugged curriculum at http://csunplugged.org/

or use these pages for lawyer fodder:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/ff384126.aspx

http://smallbasic.com/program/?TETRIS