33 ms·
One word. Why? Serious question.
by andreygrehov 8y ago
One word. Why? Serious question.
- khazhou 8y agoBecause with this javascript library, you can run BASIC programs on the web. BASIC was for many people their introduction to programming, and it has a simplicity which is nearly unmatched today. By providing a way to run the language inside the ubiquitous web browse, one may hope to spread the usage of BASIC as a learning tool, especially for youngsters.
- andreygrehov 8y agoWhy would Google want to spread the usage of BASIC? From an engineering perspective, this is an interesting project to work on, but I can't find a reason for Google to publish it. I also don't think that BASIC is a good learning tool nowadays. I'm not the only one who thinks so. A quote by Edsger W. Dijkstra: > It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration.
- jacquesm 8y agoTwo words: Why Not? Just as serious. Programming does not always require a solid reason before you can engage in it, quite a bit of it is like playing. If you actually enjoy programming then it is much nicer to do than if everything needs a financial justification. There is a similar analogy with music, you could make money with it, but you can also simply enjoy it.
- andreygrehov 8y agoSure, I can see it as an engineer's pet project, but why would Google publish it?