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> programmed from the hardware up in something like Forth Just curious, what about Forth makes it appealing as a first programming language for kids (or well-s

• Gracana 11y ago
  Forth programs are often designed bottom-up and interactively, so you make things move and blink and sense and then compose those functions into more complex ones, interactively playing and testing all the while. It also imposes little structure and the model of the computer is simple. The while package makes for a nice gradual approach to learning how to program and solve problems. Otoh it's not common so learning resources aren't as plentiful as with other languages, so mum or dad better be there to help you out.
  • nickpsecurity 11y ago
    Nah, Forth is too weird. It's determined by how Moore wants things to work as much as anything else. Example: lets force modern computing experience into 18-bit many-core (?!). Wirth's languages are a better start in that they're readable, fast, easy-to-learn, map to real-world use better, and easily extended. The interactive design could be added easily to a simple language/runtime like Oberon. Alternatives include Scheme and Python. One has a long history teaching people and the other is developing one. Python is one I recommended to someone's kid with good results not long ago. Closer to pseudo code as BASIC was while having quite a community and industrial-strength libraries.
  • TazeTSchnitzel 11y ago
    Well, a stack-oriented language is simple and composable. But Forth isn't necessarily the best choice.