5 ms·

MSFT tries to introduce kids to imperative programming because this is what 99% of programmers use. The "MSFT .NET model" also includes F# (printfn "Hello World

MSFT tries to introduce kids to imperative programming because this is what 99% of programmers use. The "MSFT .NET model" also includes F# (printfn "Hello World!") as well as implementations of every language known to man (Ada, Python, Ruby, Lisp, Pascal and dozens of unique languages).

tel 17y ago
I think part of the op's argument was to consider what the best way to learn programming is. Imperative/OO programming is important to learn someday, but it's not necessarily the easiest or best one to start on. So Microsoft's motivations might not be clearly aligned with learning. Should or shouldn't they be?
- nopassrecover 17y ago
  Perhaps I was misguided by the insinuation that Microsoft is behind some imperative language conspiracy. In any case, 99% of the code that runs this world was written in an imperative language and most universities (I believe MIT is an exception with Scheme?) will teach an imperative language before any other. It may not be the easiest (I'm biased, my mind mapped instantly) or best to start with, but it certainly is the one most commonly started with and most commonly used. I'm pretty sure Microsoft's motivations are simply to make the best development environment they can because at the end of the day that's what developers will use meaning more server licence purchases. This is evidenced by the relative freedom their dev techs get and by the insane amount of programming genius they have hired in this area.
  - tel 17y ago
    I think you nailed it: I'm pretty sure Microsoft's motivations are simply to make the best development environment they can. But children aren't developers (yet) and learning to program isn't necessarily easiest or best using imperative languages. It's not judgment, it's a difference of goals.

5 ms·

MSFT tries to introduce kids to imperative programming because this is what 99% of programmers use. The "MSFT .NET model" also includes F# (printfn "Hello World

by nopassrecover 17y ago

tel 17y ago
I think part of the op's argument was to consider what the best way to learn programming is. Imperative/OO programming is important to learn someday, but it's not necessarily the easiest or best one to start on. So Microsoft's motivations might not be clearly aligned with learning. Should or shouldn't they be?
- nopassrecover 17y ago
  Perhaps I was misguided by the insinuation that Microsoft is behind some imperative language conspiracy. In any case, 99% of the code that runs this world was written in an imperative language and most universities (I believe MIT is an exception with Scheme?) will teach an imperative language before any other. It may not be the easiest (I'm biased, my mind mapped instantly) or best to start with, but it certainly is the one most commonly started with and most commonly used. I'm pretty sure Microsoft's motivations are simply to make the best development environment they can because at the end of the day that's what developers will use meaning more server licence purchases. This is evidenced by the relative freedom their dev techs get and by the insane amount of programming genius they have hired in this area.
  - tel 17y ago
    I think you nailed it: I'm pretty sure Microsoft's motivations are simply to make the best development environment they can. But children aren't developers (yet) and learning to program isn't necessarily easiest or best using imperative languages. It's not judgment, it's a difference of goals.