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Raspberry PI cab be said to be evolved from a ~ power-on-to-BASIC computer; to wit: the (BBC) Acorn Archimedes. You can still get RISC OS for it even. Basically

Raspberry PI cab be said to be evolved from a ~ power-on-to-BASIC computer; to wit: the (BBC) Acorn Archimedes. You can still get RISC OS for it even. Basically, you power on; hit F12; *BASIC >_ and bob's your uncle: you get a nice BBC BASIC prompt at the bottom of your screen. https://www.riscosopen.org/content/downloads/raspberry-pi https://www.riscosopen.org/content/downloads/raspberry-pi (that said, why not use pi + python? It's the new BASIC. And it supports turtle graphics besides ;-) )

pmyteh 8y ago
Yes. Raspberry Pi plus RISC OS Pico will drop you straight into a BASIC prompt. And one which is largely compatible with software written the original BBC BASIC from the early 1980s, if you have that nostalgia. The embedded assembler is ARM rather than 6502, and there are improvements and changes to some of the OS interfaces, but most simple stuff will work unchanged.
deleted 8y ago
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Legogris 8y ago
> and bob's your uncle Completely OT, but I had just had to look up this phrase and the supposed origin made me chuckle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%27s_your_uncle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%27s_your_uncle
- dsr_ 8y ago
  Surely Bjorn Stronginthearm's my uncle?
simion314 8y ago
>why not use pi + python? Do you have experience with teaching python to kids? I am afraid to try it with my son because white space is important, I tried only Scratch and making him think as "a machine" is hard enough adding syntax errors on top would make the job much harder, let me know if you have experience with this and if you think I am wrong.
- mixmastamyk 8y ago
  Only the leading space is important and editors take care of it when you hit the tab key.
  - ComputerGuru 8y ago
    Or just use a language that doesn’t have that problem, then you don’t need a magic editor.
    - mixmastamyk 8y ago
      It's not a problem, it's a lot simpler than typing matching braces everywhere. Python is one of the easiest languages to learn.
      - simion314 8y ago
        I am not the person you replied but in C style syntax when you type { in an IDE the { is inserted automatically so there is no risk to forget about it, also if you copy paste a piece of code you just run the action to reformat the file or the selected code and the braces will correctly fall onto place. I am not saying that Python syntax is a big issue, but is one more thing to keep in mind and it potentially trip up children(probably something more visual that is impossible to make syntax errors is better but I did not find something that is engaging enough)
        mixmastamyk 8y ago
        His point was about not needing a "magic" editor. Neither does python, it works with spaces or tabs as long as you are consistent, and tells you where you aren't.
        simion314 8y ago
        My point is that if I define a metric for easier to use by a beginner programmer (child) then C syntax > Python syntax If you define a different metric, maybe pretty syntax then it would compare in reverse. Though I don't have experience or seen people testing this on children and "proving" that having to keep in mind spaces/tabs is harder then the braces and semicolumns (when using a decent IDE) so I may be wrong.
UncleSlacky 8y ago
This cut-down version boots straight to BBC Basic: https://www.riscosopen.org/content/sales/risc-os-pico https://www.riscosopen.org/content/sales/risc-os-pico
lproven 8y ago
I came here to advocate much the same. Raspberry Pi Zero + Risc OS Pico. The fastest BASIC interpreter ever written, with local variables, recursion, inline ARM assembler, and more. Advantages over Python etc. on Linux: * No complex OS underneath; * No need to learn arcane concepts like "editors" and "files" yet; * No significant whitespace; * No weird C-isms like the output statements, the two meanings of % or any of that legacy nonsense it inherits from 40y of crap underneath; * Zero maintenance required. Blinding fast, cheap as chips, runs on a dribble of power, solid-state and silent. If the kid takes to it, can be trivially enhanced to a full rich GUI OS with tons of educational apps and software.

pmyteh 8y ago

Yes. Raspberry Pi plus RISC OS Pico will drop you straight into a BASIC prompt. And one which is largely compatible with software written the original BBC BASIC from the early 1980s, if you have that nostalgia. The embedded assembler is ARM rather than 6502, and there are improvements and changes to some of the OS interfaces, but most simple stuff will work unchanged.

deleted 8y ago

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Legogris 8y ago

> and bob's your uncle Completely OT, but I had just had to look up this phrase and the supposed origin made me chuckle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%27s_your_uncle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%27s_your_uncle

dsr_ 8y ago
Surely Bjorn Stronginthearm's my uncle?

simion314 8y ago

>why not use pi + python? Do you have experience with teaching python to kids? I am afraid to try it with my son because white space is important, I tried only Scratch and making him think as "a machine" is hard enough adding syntax errors on top would make the job much harder, let me know if you have experience with this and if you think I am wrong.

mixmastamyk 8y ago
Only the leading space is important and editors take care of it when you hit the tab key.
- ComputerGuru 8y ago
  Or just use a language that doesn’t have that problem, then you don’t need a magic editor.
  - mixmastamyk 8y ago
    It's not a problem, it's a lot simpler than typing matching braces everywhere. Python is one of the easiest languages to learn.
    - simion314 8y ago
      I am not the person you replied but in C style syntax when you type { in an IDE the { is inserted automatically so there is no risk to forget about it, also if you copy paste a piece of code you just run the action to reformat the file or the selected code and the braces will correctly fall onto place. I am not saying that Python syntax is a big issue, but is one more thing to keep in mind and it potentially trip up children(probably something more visual that is impossible to make syntax errors is better but I did not find something that is engaging enough)
      - mixmastamyk 8y ago
        His point was about not needing a "magic" editor. Neither does python, it works with spaces or tabs as long as you are consistent, and tells you where you aren't.
        simion314 8y ago
        My point is that if I define a metric for easier to use by a beginner programmer (child) then C syntax > Python syntax If you define a different metric, maybe pretty syntax then it would compare in reverse. Though I don't have experience or seen people testing this on children and "proving" that having to keep in mind spaces/tabs is harder then the braces and semicolumns (when using a decent IDE) so I may be wrong.

UncleSlacky 8y ago

This cut-down version boots straight to BBC Basic: https://www.riscosopen.org/content/sales/risc-os-pico https://www.riscosopen.org/content/sales/risc-os-pico

lproven 8y ago

I came here to advocate much the same. Raspberry Pi Zero + Risc OS Pico. The fastest BASIC interpreter ever written, with local variables, recursion, inline ARM assembler, and more. Advantages over Python etc. on Linux: * No complex OS underneath; * No need to learn arcane concepts like "editors" and "files" yet; * No significant whitespace; * No weird C-isms like the output statements, the two meanings of % or any of that legacy nonsense it inherits from 40y of crap underneath; * Zero maintenance required. Blinding fast, cheap as chips, runs on a dribble of power, solid-state and silent. If the kid takes to it, can be trivially enhanced to a full rich GUI OS with tons of educational apps and software.