survey

[gusl]

1) Did you write computer programs as a child?

2) What language?

3) How did you learn? Did you have someone teach you?

4) Did you ever meet other kids who programmed?

I think most kids today no longer have this opportunity.


MY ANSWERS:

1) Yes. I started when I was 7.
2) Basic, on my MSX. Later, DOS QBasic (which no longer required line numbers).
3) I learned from examples: whenever you loaded a game on the cassette, the code listing was right there. I still don't remember what my first program was (probably something with PRINT and INPUT), or why I decided to write it. I started out by myself, but occasionally learned things from my uncle who was a programmer, or read something in magazines.
4) Nope. Not that I know.

Comments

[xuande.livejournal.com]

If Microsoft sticks to the .NET Framework, future versions of Windows will at least ship with an application programming language (C#, which is pretty easy to learn, to boot).

Also, I think a fair amount of kids nowadays are learning to program JavaScript for fancy webpage design. I've met at least one high-school student for whom that was their introduction to computer programming.

But you're right, it's still nothing like turning on the computer and going straight to a BASIC prompt (which I assume the MSX did, like other computers of its generation).

[fub.livejournal.com]

If Microsoft sticks to the .NET Framework
Longhorn might do this -- but it was recently announced that Longhorn itself will not be completely built in .NET. So it remains to be seen whether a ready-to-use programming environment will be available.

[xuande.livejournal.com]

All they would have to do is ship it ready to run .NET programs. The .NET Framework redistributables include a C# compiler (and I think maybe compilers for a few other language).

[fub.livejournal.com]

But will it include an IDE, or will the youngsters need to find out how to write the code in notepad and compile it on the commandline?

[xuande.livejournal.com]

Notepad and command line, I'm afraid.

[fub.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I think that it won't be such a great draw like it was in the era of homecomputers -- if you have to go looking for the programming environment, it won't spur inquistive people on. Unless they are really looking to program in the first place, in which case there are many (free) languages to choose from, like Perl or Python.