I agree. I think the only thing you want is something that doesn't break for obscure reasons so that you can figure out why it's not working when (inevitably) you get some code that doesn't work any more - that's really off-putting to kids.
For me, I think it was BASIC (several variants) and Logo as my first programming languages. After that, I got into C, Pascal, LISP and started really understanding coding. BASIC really taught me some bad habits though!
Re:C is the only starting language
on
Hello World!
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· Score: 1
I love C with a passion, but I agree - I wouldn't let a kid loose with it:o) Maybe a Uni student, but not a 9-12 yr old you're wanting to not hate programming =)
I write JS for a living and I wouldn't let that crap loose on anyone. It's an awful language to learn - the runtime environments give little feedback about errors (and often incorrect feedback at that) it runs differently depending on which browser you use and the free tools for programming JS are crap.
I'd go for Java instead: all the FOSS advantages claimed for Python apply to Java as well, AND it performs very well ( typically 80% the speed of C), it has a ton of game specific libraries written for it but you can use it 'out of the box' for writing games as well just with the standard libraries. BUT - and this is the really big issue for me - it is *very* vocal about errors and the 'fail-fast' design philosophy really helps finding errors quickly. There's nothing worse than doing some coding on something that already works and finding it no longer runs and you have no (correct) feedback about what the problem is - and this happens to me all the time in Javascript (even with good tools like Venkman or MS's script debug tool).
I prefer Netbeans personally... and I've been a VS user for over a decade.
Re:Android just won't catch up with iPhone
on
Unlocking Android
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· Score: 1
That is complete and utter rubbish. Noone who has actualy *used* both Objective-C and Java could imagine that the latter was a 'knock off' of the former.
As a non American, allow me to say that I think this article is bullshit. The world needs hackers today every bit as much as it ever did. Creative thinkers lead to creative solutions. It seems to me that arguing that all programmers should be drones is the kind of thing you'd expect from some know-nothing PHB.
I wondered about the name myself. Is that supposed to be Kiwi as in the bird, or Kiwi as in Kiwifruit, or something else? Neither of the first options sounds especially... um... normal.
Hey, what the hell, he's own our side. As a New Zealander, I now have another reason to shout "Go Kiwi!"
This is one of the reasons that Java should have been used for the UI instead of GTK, but Linux zealots are too rabidly anti Java to make what would have been an eminently sensible choice. Great triumph of zealotry over common sense.
And yet it seems that there's a littany of American voices chiming in to justify continued US control of the situation. Are Americans the only rational people here, the only sane people who can see the situation clearly, or it there the possibility of a bit of nationalistic bias here? Sure, the GP post was ad-hominem, so it's not a valid logical deduction... but nevertheless is it correct to infer bias? I sure find it odd that the rational decision can only be made by Americans.
The UN only has the power to do what it's member states allow. All it can do is provide a forum for open discussion - just the kind of environment that ought to be good for controlling ICANN (no change unless everyone agrees)
In other words, US control of ICANN allowed political interference to get in the way of TLD name decisions. Exactly what the article claims doesn't happen unless you let those scary 'other people' handle.
Ditto. I normally block ads as a matter of course, but being offered the oportunity to opt out is really nice. I really appreciate the guesture, and I'm leving them on.
OK, well the Russians made many many more times the number of Germans die for Germany than did anyone else, so on that count, their contribution was greater as well.
...and then AMD can undercut them, sell lots of product and everyone wins except Intel. What's the problem with that?
What you suggest would only be the inexcapable outcome if Intel were already a monopoly, which - thanks to legal actions like this from the EU - they are not yet.
Why would they use Solaris? Even Sun hardly seemed to use it that much;o) I suppose it might have some advantages on the Server, which is a clear synergy with Oracle.
What about MySQL?
on
Oracle Buys Sun
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· Score: 5, Interesting
Well well well. I can see this working well for Oracle - they use Java a great deal... and it should be good news for Sun's open source projects like Netbeans - which would, I think, be maintained under Oracle.
I guess it's a little sad to see Sun unable to continue by themselves, but the writing was on the wall and I think Oracle will keep all the Sun products working, but of course the big question is what does this mean for MySQL?
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I agree. I think the only thing you want is something that doesn't break for obscure reasons so that you can figure out why it's not working when (inevitably) you get some code that doesn't work any more - that's really off-putting to kids.
For me, I think it was BASIC (several variants) and Logo as my first programming languages. After that, I got into C, Pascal, LISP and started really understanding coding. BASIC really taught me some bad habits though!
I love C with a passion, but I agree - I wouldn't let a kid loose with it :o) Maybe a Uni student, but not a 9-12 yr old you're wanting to not hate programming =)
I write JS for a living and I wouldn't let that crap loose on anyone. It's an awful language to learn - the runtime environments give little feedback about errors (and often incorrect feedback at that) it runs differently depending on which browser you use and the free tools for programming JS are crap.
I'd go for Java instead: all the FOSS advantages claimed for Python apply to Java as well, AND it performs very well ( typically 80% the speed of C), it has a ton of game specific libraries written for it but you can use it 'out of the box' for writing games as well just with the standard libraries. BUT - and this is the really big issue for me - it is *very* vocal about errors and the 'fail-fast' design philosophy really helps finding errors quickly. There's nothing worse than doing some coding on something that already works and finding it no longer runs and you have no (correct) feedback about what the problem is - and this happens to me all the time in Javascript (even with good tools like Venkman or MS's script debug tool).
I prefer Netbeans personally... and I've been a VS user for over a decade.
That is complete and utter rubbish. Noone who has actualy *used* both Objective-C and Java could imagine that the latter was a 'knock off' of the former.
As a non American, allow me to say that I think this article is bullshit. The world needs hackers today every bit as much as it ever did. Creative thinkers lead to creative solutions. It seems to me that arguing that all programmers should be drones is the kind of thing you'd expect from some know-nothing PHB.
Hack on, Yanks!
I wondered about the name myself. Is that supposed to be Kiwi as in the bird, or Kiwi as in Kiwifruit, or something else? Neither of the first options sounds especially... um... normal.
Hey, what the hell, he's own our side. As a New Zealander, I now have another reason to shout "Go Kiwi!"
Even for /. this article is embarrassingly stupid. The /. editors should hang their heads in shame for pushing such utter moronic rubbish.
Well played, sir, well played :o)
This is one of the reasons that Java should have been used for the UI instead of GTK, but Linux zealots are too rabidly anti Java to make what would have been an eminently sensible choice. Great triumph of zealotry over common sense.
And yet it seems that there's a littany of American voices chiming in to justify continued US control of the situation. Are Americans the only rational people here, the only sane people who can see the situation clearly, or it there the possibility of a bit of nationalistic bias here? Sure, the GP post was ad-hominem, so it's not a valid logical deduction... but nevertheless is it correct to infer bias? I sure find it odd that the rational decision can only be made by Americans.
Oh take your fucking hand off it.
The US allowed political pressure to derail the .sex / .xxx domain debate. QED.
Don't be a naive moron. Of course law applies to war - or do you condone war crimes, biological weapons, slaughter of non combatants?
The UN only has the power to do what it's member states allow. All it can do is provide a forum for open discussion - just the kind of environment that ought to be good for controlling ICANN (no change unless everyone agrees)
In other words, US control of ICANN allowed political interference to get in the way of TLD name decisions. Exactly what the article claims doesn't happen unless you let those scary 'other people' handle.
Exactly my thoughts too. NB is sweet IMO
Moron.
I have a console written in Java. It opens in a fraction of a second.
Ditto. I normally block ads as a matter of course, but being offered the oportunity to opt out is really nice. I really appreciate the guesture, and I'm leving them on.
OK, well the Russians made many many more times the number of Germans die for Germany than did anyone else, so on that count, their contribution was greater as well.
You are a moron.
...and then AMD can undercut them, sell lots of product and everyone wins except Intel. What's the problem with that?
What you suggest would only be the inexcapable outcome if Intel were already a monopoly, which - thanks to legal actions like this from the EU - they are not yet.
What? Let facts get in the way of a good rant? You do know this is /. right? ;o)
Why would they use Solaris? Even Sun hardly seemed to use it that much ;o) I suppose it might have some advantages on the Server, which is a clear synergy with Oracle.
Well well well. I can see this working well for Oracle - they use Java a great deal... and it should be good news for Sun's open source projects like Netbeans - which would, I think, be maintained under Oracle.
I guess it's a little sad to see Sun unable to continue by themselves, but the writing was on the wall and I think Oracle will keep all the Sun products working, but of course the big question is what does this mean for MySQL?