It does boil down to context though. Who are you teaching? Someone who doesn't know computers at all? (Why are they learning to program then? Well, it happens).

It does boil down to context though. Who are you teaching? Someone who doesn't know computers at all? (Why are they learning to program then? Well, it happens). IMO a very simple command line interface where the only thing that is happening is directly what the student is doing can be helpful. The VB IDE has a ton of stuff going on, it can be intimidating. Just depends on the student.