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[razormaid]

Max wants to dive into programming. Any suggestions on where he should start? Is BASIC too... well, basic, these days? He has been using Scratch for almost two years now, but mostly for simple animations and little movies. Should I help him find more complicated tutorials to move forward in that direction? Help me, nerd-friends. You're my only hope

Comments

[vaxocentric]

I think the more important question is what does Max want to do with programming? For me, programming is a necessary evil in order to do something cool (or otherwise, make something easier). I would hate to learn, say, Java, because I have no use for it. HTML (though technically a "markup" language and not a "programming" language), PHP, and PERL I've found to be immensely useful, and as such I picked them up like nobody's business.

[annestatized]

I think that is a really good question. it's like.. i wouldn't teach him c++ when he wants to make a website.

[chu_hi]

Don said. "Ruby." I said, even though Max is, like, seven? And he said, "Ruby. Ruby Ruby Ruby."

[chu_hi]

...He says there's a good introduction to it for kids on http://poignantguide.net. :)

[antivert]

Hey, just thought I'd throw in my two cents! I'm very much against using programming languages specifically designed for teaching. There some great "real" languages out there well suited for a beginner, and they're actually easier to teach because they have "real world" use.

I believe chu_hi mentioned that I'm in favor of Ruby! :)

It's very clean and fun to use. I almost quit programming professionally before I found it :) One advantage of using a "real" language like this is that once Max learns the basics, he can run with it and actually have a useful skill!

Ruby is free and open source.

http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/downloads/

edit: I'm an idiot! crackmonkey already mentioned shoes :)

[annestatized]

This is a bit ancient, but I started off learning PASCAL in Junior High for a couple of years after that, then moved into C, and then C++. I found it very easy to progress, that's how it was in my school.

It helped me greatly but it could've been my teacher too that rocked.

XHTML is really easy but going from that to hard-core programming is NOT. XHTML!=programmer

I would go the other way around and start off with programming and then delve into easier web stuff.

[antivert]

since all of the languages mentioned here (short of Logo) are more about learning how computers work (if you're curious, "imperative programming" is a wonderful term to know) than telling computers what you want done and having them do it.

Not to argue, but this is completely inaccurate. (If you're curious, "functional programming" is a good term to know). :P Again, not arguing, just had to point this out. :)

[antivert]

Sorry, one more thing that's bothering me about this! No programming language was ever devised to force you to learn how computers work. They're called languages because they're designed for humans to read and use.

I agree with your other points though! It's all about what Max wants to do!