Recommendations for children interested in programming

[Bunk]

Uses everything from C to .NET. I'd edited the post above to provide a linky.

Lego Mindstorms - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cant say how easy it is to get into though as never tried it but had considered getting a set for my eldest lad as he's obsessed with Lego and is clever for a young'un.

I'm tempted to get some for myself

[NickFitz]

The idea of teaching anybody, whatever their age, BASIC in 2012 is just bizarre. If they expressed an interest in cars, you wouldn't start them off with a Model T Ford: not only is it outdated and irrelevant, but so much about it from the way it starts to the way you control the gears is completely unlike any car made in the last fifty years. So it is with BASIC.

Invent with Python is what you're looking for: Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python

EDIT: BTW, Python is the "official" educational language of the Raspberry Pi: http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs

[d000hg]

BASIC was already out of date when I learnt to program. That doesn't change the fact that learning how to issue a sequence of instructions to the computer is a core part of learning programming. For children, that way of thinking is more important than the language. I never used any BASIC language for anything after the age of 10 or so (until I was forced to do some VBA) but it taught me foundational skills which have stood me in good stead.

Computers still work the same way, you still have low/medium/high-level languages, therefore BASIC is as relevant now as it was 20 years ago in my view.

I repeat - you can not teach C or Python to a kid at the same age they are learning to do basic arithmetic. You CAN teach them BASIC.

[xoggoth]

Why not get an old copy of VB6? It works fine on windows 7 64 bit provided you instal and run as administrator. I often use mine for knocking up quick utilities. Loads of tips on the net, very little you can't do with it.

Or, if they have office, use vba in Excel. Not much you can't do with that either, umpteen references you can use, quicktime videos, databases, etc etc, creates proper forms, you don't have to just do things with sheets. Just wrote a bulk mailer using it.

[xoggoth]

Ooooh, bluddy ell!!!!!!! Just looked for VB6 on ebay and it costs a fortune! Just get free VS express and VB.net.

Visual Basic 6.0 - Get great deals for Visual Basic 6.0 on eBay!

[Scrag Meister]

The idea of teaching anybody, whatever their age, BASIC in 2012 is just bizarre. If they expressed an interest in cars, you wouldn't start them off with a Model T Ford: not only is it outdated and irrelevant, but so much about it from the way it starts to the way you control the gears is completely unlike any car made in the last fifty years. So it is with BASIC.

Invent with Python is what you're looking for: Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python

EDIT: BTW, Python is the "official" educational language of the Raspberry Pi: FAQs | Raspberry Pi

I'm a firm believer that programming is more about a state of mind and logical ability, than a specific syntax.

If you can think like a programmer then the language is a secondary thing.

You either have it or you don't and the language really isn't the main issue.

And if BASIC is as obsolete as you imply why do Microsoft still include it with Office, Studio, etc.. after 30+ years of it being around. VB.NET has access to the same Framework as C#, it's just a different language interface.

Edit . Since I was 14 I have used the following, Commodore 64 Basic, QuickBasic 1, QuickBasic 2, PDS 7.1, VBDOS, VB3,4,5,6, VB.NET

And its still around.

[Bunk]

I'm a firm believer that programming is more about a state of mind and logical ability, than a specific syntax.

If you can think like a programmer then the language is a secondary thing.

You either have it or you don't and the language really isn't the main issue.

And if BASIC is as obsolete as you imply why do Microsoft still include it with Office, Studio, etc.. after 30+ years of it being around. VB.NET has access to the same Framework as C#, it's just a different language interface.

To be fair I think Nick is talking about old school BASIC as opposed to VB.net (although I doubt he has a high opinion of that either). I agree with you though, to start with the language should be a secondary concern. The important thing is getting used to the logic and mindset involved in programming. Once you've got that you can move on to more complicated/powerful languages.

[Sysman]

To be fair I think Nick is talking about old school BASIC as opposed to VB.net (although I doubt he has a high opinion of that either). I agree with you though, to start with the language should be a secondary concern. The important thing is getting used to the logic and mindset involved in programming. Once you've got that you can move on to more complicated/powerful languages.

Yes, you've just reminded me of the homework I helped a neighbour's daughter with. Some of the advice in that BBC BASIC book had me screaming out loud; the author was raving about how cool GOTO was

VAX BASIC which I knew at that time was a completely different kettle of frogs, (and far superior to the much later VB3).

[d000hg]

I don't know that I'd consider VB to be BASIC, there's a lot more to confuse people with And as for VB.net, definitely not. I mean good old-fashioned BASIC with line numbers, as being the simplest language you can actually write something in.

Some of the advice in that BBC BASIC book had me screaming out loud; the author was raving about how cool GOTO was

I thought we wanted to teach them low-level "how the computer works" stuff? That's what GOTO is, it my instill bad programming habits but it also is a fundamental part of knowing what a C function does.

[Sysman]

I thought we wanted to teach them low-level "how the computer works" stuff? That's what GOTO is, it my instill bad programming habits but it also is a fundamental part of knowing what a C function does.

Fair comment.