You can even still see that influence in modern science.
I would recommend you take some time to look in to the history and philosophy of science. It's quite enlightening. If you can't afford a proper education, I can make some reading recommendations for you.
I hate to break it to you, but those skills transfer really, really, easily.
Do you struggle with, say, bounded iteration every time you learn a new language? I seriously doubt that!
I've always maintained that anyone can learn how to program. Equally, I've never wavered from my conviction that it doesn't matter what language you learn first, the essential skills easily transfer to other languages. (Though some languages, and paradigms, are admittedly more beginner-friendly than others, with imperative languages leading the 'ease-of-use' charge. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what language they learn first.)
As I pointed out, "This whole 'OMG if my kids can't code they'll be disadvantaged for life' stupidity has to be called out for what it is."
Uh, oh. Sounds like *someone* only has a single skill and is worried about their future job security!
Yes, those kids will be disadvantaged. Programming and related skills offer numerous advantages regardless of their future career or station in life.
It does not make much difference what a person studies. All knowledge is related, and the man who studies anything, if he keeps at it, will become learned. --Hypatia of Alexandria
I'm a firm believer in the value of interdisciplinary study. Even if those kids never touch a computer again, that experience will undoubtedly enrich future learning experiences, creative exercises, and other aspects of their lives.
I wouldn't. While 7 is unusually young, a lot of Slashdotters weren't much older when they (on their own) learned to program. Under 10 is pretty common. I was around 9. I've seen several people here say they were about 8 when they started programming.
Kids are pretty damn amazing. Don't be so quick to underestimate them.
If you want to be needless pedantic, that would be an equilateral triangle.
Why call it a pyramid? Because pyramids are fun and mysterious. Equilateral triangles are decidedly not. Projects like this should be fun. Unnecessary pedantry wouldn't be conducive to learning.
Both of those are absolutely awful beginner languages. BASIC, in contrast, is a really good fit as it has no "cruft". (If you've ever taught Java as a first language, you know exactly what I'm talking about.)
That, and give them a problem to solve. Better yet, let them find a problem to solve.
So much this. Programming is a practical skill, not unlike juggling. There's ultimately very little beginners need to learn, the bulk is merely practice and experience.
Good beginner problems, unfortunately, are really difficult to find. My go-to problems are "math quiz", "triangle", "pyramid and diamond", "NIM two-players" and "NIM one-player". "Math quiz" and "NIM" are self explanatory. "triangle" and "pyramid and diamond" need a bit of explanation. Essentially the student is challenged to accept a height as input and output a right-triangle (made of asterisks) to the console. The pyramid is a more advanced variation of that, where they output a pyramid instead of a triangle. As a second part of the pyramid puzzle, they're tasked with outputting a diamond (essentially two pyramids with one inverted, forming a diamond.)
It hasn't been bad lately. I run the "Developer Edition" 64bit on Windows 7 at home. It's snappy enough and I haven't been experiencing the random hang-ups like I used to on Nightly 32bit. Chrome still feels faster, but it's noticeably heavier. On Windows XP, the regular releases have been dramatically better than Chrome for the past year or so.
Rather than going "off a cliff" I've been noticing steady, all-around, improvements.
IMHO Firefox OS was a bit of a stretch, but if they manage to keep things simple and intuitive in that ecosystem, having a mobile plattform that puts web-technology front and center could be just exactly the right thing a continuingly fragmented mobile space needs.
Indeed, it's an important platform to support. The most important bit, of course, is a standard app package that can be implemented easily on other platforms. I'd like to see support on BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and better support from Android.
That's not "active apps" that's "recently used apps". And, yes, it will frequently close apps when you don't want them closed. (My wife now just assumes that her app will close when she attempts to switch tasks.)
See, FirefoxOS and BlackBerry 10 (or even earlier, pre-QNX, versions) to see how task switching is supposed to work.
If that doesn't suite you, try Windows 3.1. It does the job better than Android.
On the contrary. I've even written applications for them. I still miss my iPaq -- slick, and writing apps was a breeze. Also miss my HP-320lx (though that one ran WinCE). I never had a problem with the stylus on either -- and I prefer it to the horribly imprecise world of capacitive touch screens we've got today.
It's a shame the galaxy note runs Android. I do love that stylus.
MS' approach now is to develop a universal app that shares the same codebase but is completely reskinned appropriately for different form factors.
Sounds like a step in the right direction. Well, Mozilla did get the jump on them there with a universal app package, though it's up to the developers to make sure their UI adapts properly to the device.
but cramming a desktop UI onto a phone didn't work
I want to do simple things like switch between tasks. I'm not in the minority here. Lots of people want that feature. Think: "Can I deal with this notification and get back to my game?"
Android, obviously, can't handle that. Most of the time, it just closes the other program when you change tasks. There's no warning, and nothing you can do to stop it. It drives my wife crazy. She was spoiled by her old PlayBook, which could not only handle task-switching, but true multitasking.
I want my phone to just work and not require constant maintenance.
Me too, which is why I own a BlackBerry. Android, as you know, still requires constant maintenance. Between the malware and other issues, it's no wonder the most popular non-game apps for Android are maintenance programs.
Slashdot Mirror
Ah, I figured you were an autodidact. It explains SO much.
Anyhow, I'm sorry that you're so disadvantaged.
Since you missed it:
You can even still see that influence in modern science.
I would recommend you take some time to look in to the history and philosophy of science. It's quite enlightening. If you can't afford a proper education, I can make some reading recommendations for you.
He's dead, Jim.
That should be "She's dead". Do you think only "idiots" study history as well?
And then there are the idiots who study astrology, theology, etc.
Speaking of history, you'll find that many of histories greatest minds were theologians. You can even still see that influence in modern science.
I hate to break it to you, but those skills transfer really, really, easily.
Do you struggle with, say, bounded iteration every time you learn a new language? I seriously doubt that!
I've always maintained that anyone can learn how to program. Equally, I've never wavered from my conviction that it doesn't matter what language you learn first, the essential skills easily transfer to other languages. (Though some languages, and paradigms, are admittedly more beginner-friendly than others, with imperative languages leading the 'ease-of-use' charge. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what language they learn first.)
As I pointed out, "This whole 'OMG if my kids can't code they'll be disadvantaged for life' stupidity has to be called out for what it is."
Uh, oh. Sounds like *someone* only has a single skill and is worried about their future job security!
Yes, those kids will be disadvantaged. Programming and related skills offer numerous advantages regardless of their future career or station in life.
It does not make much difference what a person studies. All knowledge is related, and the man who studies anything, if he keeps at it, will become learned. --Hypatia of Alexandria
I'm a firm believer in the value of interdisciplinary study. Even if those kids never touch a computer again, that experience will undoubtedly enrich future learning experiences, creative exercises, and other aspects of their lives.
I wouldn't. While 7 is unusually young, a lot of Slashdotters weren't much older when they (on their own) learned to program. Under 10 is pretty common. I was around 9. I've seen several people here say they were about 8 when they started programming.
Kids are pretty damn amazing. Don't be so quick to underestimate them.
If you want to be needless pedantic, that would be an equilateral triangle.
Why call it a pyramid? Because pyramids are fun and mysterious. Equilateral triangles are decidedly not. Projects like this should be fun. Unnecessary pedantry wouldn't be conducive to learning.
Deja Vu...
Both of those are absolutely awful beginner languages. BASIC, in contrast, is a really good fit as it has no "cruft". (If you've ever taught Java as a first language, you know exactly what I'm talking about.)
By the time these kids grow up, "programming skills" will be obsolete
The essential skills are the same now as they were 60 years ago. What makes you think that will change in the next 10-15 years?
That, and give them a problem to solve. Better yet, let them find a problem to solve.
So much this. Programming is a practical skill, not unlike juggling. There's ultimately very little beginners need to learn, the bulk is merely practice and experience.
Good beginner problems, unfortunately, are really difficult to find. My go-to problems are "math quiz", "triangle", "pyramid and diamond", "NIM two-players" and "NIM one-player". "Math quiz" and "NIM" are self explanatory. "triangle" and "pyramid and diamond" need a bit of explanation. Essentially the student is challenged to accept a height as input and output a right-triangle (made of asterisks) to the console. The pyramid is a more advanced variation of that, where they output a pyramid instead of a triangle. As a second part of the pyramid puzzle, they're tasked with outputting a diamond (essentially two pyramids with one inverted, forming a diamond.)
True. Though some languages are more "beginner friendly" than others.
Though I could be convinced to agree that some languages cripple the mind irreparably, like Python.
Views like "women are responsible for what (rape) happens to them if they dress in a certain way and go out in the evening alone" are commonplace.
It's pretty common here in the States as well...
It hasn't been bad lately. I run the "Developer Edition" 64bit on Windows 7 at home. It's snappy enough and I haven't been experiencing the random hang-ups like I used to on Nightly 32bit. Chrome still feels faster, but it's noticeably heavier. On Windows XP, the regular releases have been dramatically better than Chrome for the past year or so.
Rather than going "off a cliff" I've been noticing steady, all-around, improvements.
Oh, that's easy. In 100% of cases, it's "I disagree".
IMHO Firefox OS was a bit of a stretch, but if they manage to keep things simple and intuitive in that ecosystem, having a mobile plattform that puts web-technology front and center could be just exactly the right thing a continuingly fragmented mobile space needs.
Indeed, it's an important platform to support. The most important bit, of course, is a standard app package that can be implemented easily on other platforms. I'd like to see support on BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and better support from Android.
Just about everything in the summary is wrong. I'm going to assume that the article isn't much better.
Constantly on the prowl for music that helps me write software
That's like looking for a pony that helps you cook.
That's not "active apps" that's "recently used apps". And, yes, it will frequently close apps when you don't want them closed. (My wife now just assumes that her app will close when she attempts to switch tasks.)
See, FirefoxOS and BlackBerry 10 (or even earlier, pre-QNX, versions) to see how task switching is supposed to work.
If that doesn't suite you, try Windows 3.1. It does the job better than Android.
I take it you never used a Pocket PC device then?
On the contrary. I've even written applications for them. I still miss my iPaq -- slick, and writing apps was a breeze. Also miss my HP-320lx (though that one ran WinCE). I never had a problem with the stylus on either -- and I prefer it to the horribly imprecise world of capacitive touch screens we've got today.
It's a shame the galaxy note runs Android. I do love that stylus.
MS' approach now is to develop a universal app that shares the same codebase but is completely reskinned appropriately for different form factors.
Sounds like a step in the right direction. Well, Mozilla did get the jump on them there with a universal app package, though it's up to the developers to make sure their UI adapts properly to the device.
but cramming a desktop UI onto a phone didn't work
Who said anything about that?
Fine. Though I wonder why you don't think that a new idea that no one has considered before is innovative?
It's obviously not "reusing old ideas", so why do you discount it?
You're right, it was the AC. Still, his information is dramatically out-of-date. Why contradict that obvious fact?
And what about the alleged "severe limitations to hardware access" you mention explicitly?
I thought so.
If apple had invented the touch sensitive keyboard and associated gestures, you'd be singing their prases.
I want to do simple things like switch between tasks. I'm not in the minority here. Lots of people want that feature. Think: "Can I deal with this notification and get back to my game?"
Android, obviously, can't handle that. Most of the time, it just closes the other program when you change tasks. There's no warning, and nothing you can do to stop it. It drives my wife crazy. She was spoiled by her old PlayBook, which could not only handle task-switching, but true multitasking.
I want my phone to just work and not require constant maintenance.
Me too, which is why I own a BlackBerry. Android, as you know, still requires constant maintenance. Between the malware and other issues, it's no wonder the most popular non-game apps for Android are maintenance programs.