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The Little Coder's Predicament

Posted by timothy on from the 10-goto-20-20-goto-10 dept.

An anonymous reader writes "There's an interesting article on Advogato about the world of computing that kids today find themselves in compared to the world that kids in the 80's found themselves in. Learning to program in the 80's was simpler because the machines were more limited, and generally came with BASIC. Now we have Windows, which typically comes with no built-in programming language. What can be done to improve the situation?"

7 of 1,073 comments (clear)

  1. Wrong by borgdows · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now we have Windows, which typically comes with no built-in programming language

    Windows comes with VBScript built-in!

    er..can I really call it a programming language? ;)

  2. Windows comes with programming tools! by groman · · Score: 5, Funny

    What, did you forget about "debug"? Man, kids these days. Go to Start->Run...->"debug". There, learn! :-)

  3. Tough choice by BabyDave · · Score: 5, Funny

    No programming language ... or BASIC.

    I won't put in the obligatory Dijkstra quote, because by the time I finish this sentence, about 200 people will have posted it already.

    Oh, what the hell:

    It is practically impossible to teach good programming style to students that have had prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration. -- Dijkstra
  4. You Meticulous Rapscallions by madcoder47 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bah!

    All you people do is whine and whine about languages!

    Back in my day, I had a bunch of OR and NOT gates and some solder. When I was very good, my parents would buy me an AND gate for my birthday. Those were the days.

  5. Re:Create a simple learning language... by Lord_Slepnir · · Score: 5, Funny
    some sort of learning language to get the kids hooked when they are young.

    The scene: In a park with a lot of little kids around

    (stranger dressed up like Bill Gates in a trenchcoat): Hey kid, I got something for you
    Kid: What
    Stranger: It's the good stuff...(holds out a box labeled 'GW-Basic#'
    Kid: I don't know. My daddy told me that stuff is bad for you...it causes you to get fat and pimply and never get a date
    Stranger: That's a lie! Come on. First taste is free (holds out box further)
    Kid: Well, ok....

  6. Re:Java by Jester99 · · Score: 4, Funny
    I'd introduce... emacs (in order to have the simplest possible environment)

    Hmm. You're one of those people to whom the dashboard of a 747 is "simple," aren't you. :)

    "Daddy? How do I compile?"

    *sigh* For the last time, Bob, M-L, M-X, C-M-K, "make", esc-esc-return...

  7. Scheme IS practical, you insensitive clod! by brlewis · · Score: 4, Funny
    it's Scheme....get them something a bit more practical

    I program professionally in Scheme, you insensitive clod!

    (Seriously, I do.)