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]

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.