Slashdot Mirror


Ask Slashdot: Best Book For 11-Year-Old Who Wants To Teach Himself To Program?

New submitter waferthinmint asks "What is the best book for my son to use to teach himself to program? He wants to study on his own but everything seems to assume an instructor or a working theoretical knowledge. He's a bright kid but the right guide can make all the difference. Also, what language should he start with? When I was in HS, it was Basic or Pascal. Now, I guess, C? He has access to an Ubuntu box and an older MacBook Pro. Help me Slashdot; you're our only hope."

8 of 525 comments (clear)

  1. Datasheet by Matt_Bennett · · Score: 4, Funny

    Print out the datasheet for a microcontroller and hand it to him. It might discourage him, but you could just be creating a prodigy.

    1. Re:Datasheet by Quaoar · · Score: 4, Funny

      Or the Unabomber...

      --
      I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
  2. Re:Python by LifesABeach · · Score: 4, Funny

    Junior could just "Google" his questions. My daughter says Google holds all lifes answers.

  3. Perl rocks! by swm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Learning Perl
    Schwartz & Christiansen

    Or just send him to http://perldoc.perl.org/

  4. Re:Python by chaosite · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nah man, snakes are cool. "Playing with Ruby" makes it sound like your eleven-year-old hired a whore, or perhaps a drag-queen.

  5. Re:Normally C but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Isn't that how Bill Gates got started? Look what that got us.

    Yes, but look at what that got him.

  6. Re:Python by CCarrot · · Score: 4, Funny

    When I entered college I know how to program in about 8 languages (before Google) myself, I was actually codding professionally before I left for college too.

    Hmmm...sounds a bit fishy to me.

    --
    "I love animals! Some are cute, others are tasty, what's not to like?" - Betsy Schroeder, Jeopardy contestant
  7. Re:Python by Smallpond · · Score: 3, Funny

    Today I had to tuna database, then I was supposed to do some ray tracing but I floundered.