5 ms·
If someone never programmed before, and had little concept of programming fundamentals, then I would highly recommend starting with my favourite simple language
by binarymax 17y ago
If someone never programmed before, and had little concept of programming fundamentals, then I would highly recommend starting with my favourite simple language: Logo.
The thing about logo is that it was specifically designed as an educational language. It teaches the basics of syntax, commands, variables, and functions, and it offers instant gratification. It is very easy to see how a computer can follow very simple programs, and if you do something wrong you see it immediately. Once they've mastered the fundamentals of logo (which should only take a couple hours) then I would have them move on to a full blown language.
- omaranto 17y agoI haven't programmed in Logo in years, but I recall it as pretty full-blown: isn't it a dialect of Lisp (with a funny infix syntax but) including macros?
- binarymax 17y agoYes it is, but as far as I know its not widely used outside of the turtle programs. In my opinion, instead of delving deeper into it, the student would probably benefit a bit more in the longrun by spending the bulk of their time on something more mainstream...this would open them to a much more available set of documentation, support, communities, etc. Though maybe I am wrong and there is a thriving massive Logo development community!
- araneae 17y agohttp://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/ http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/ can be a fun thing to play around with. (You can write agent-based simulations in logo)
- HeyLaughingBoy 17y agoI've often thought it would be cool to port LOGO to an AVR or other microcontroller so you could build an "actual" mechanical turtle that would move around the floor in response to the commands. NoteToSelf("Add LOGO to project list"); Someone, somewhere has to have done this already. I should look it up!!