Ask HN: What is good language / project to teach 12-year old to code?

[geedy]

Thinking HTML/javascript, text game, but am open to other suggestions. I am quick to pick up languages (I already write a lot of different languages). I want to make sure that I choose something interesting enough to keep his attention if he really is wanting to learn to code.

[euroclydon]

With JavaScript/HTML, Scratch, or anything that requires the internet, I'm concerned about attention span. I don't want to commit some, "it was better in the old days" fallacy, my 6 and 8 years olds are using scratch, but when they're 12, my plan is to give them an offline PC and a printed copy of Learn Python the Hard Way. It's just too easy to be distracted by the internet. When they're 16 (we homeschool, so I can do this) I'm going to let them take a half a year off from other studies and work through The Elements of Computing Systems, where they will built their own VM, language and compiler in Java.

[csense]

> It's just too easy to be distracted by the internet.

But OTOH a lot of documentation, help, and resources are available on the Internet. Learning to program was much more difficult in the old days when those resources weren't available.

[geedy]

This is a good point. I'll have to get a better handle on his ability to focus / get distracted.

[farseer]

Start with C#/VB. The drag and drop GUI creation in .NET is a powerful tool for new programmers and kids alike. I learnt that with VB5 when I was 13 and was creating simple GUI based apps within a few days. A powerful IDE is absoluately necessary when learning the first language because it allows a newbie to explore things without opening any technical documentation. You can also go the HTML/JS route, again with an IDE that allows drag and drop of components. Stay away from python and java for now.

[eightyone]

Check out the book Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming. It covers how to make a couple different 2D games.

http://www.amazon.com/Python-Kids-Playful-Introduction-Progr...

[geedy]

Have you used this resource much? How easy do you think it would be to adapt some of the projects in this book to javascript? Thanks!

[deadfall]

Scratch (developed by MIT) is very useful to teach kids functions/modules/loops/etc. http://scratch.mit.edu/

[kellishaver]

I've been doing HTML/JavaScript with my 11yr old. We're pair programming a little offline web app she can put on her iPod touch.

[83a]

have you already looked at http://processing.org/ ? although i don't like java i think it's quite cool, because:

- good documentation

- many small examples you can start from

- all built in (video/sound/grafik)

- you can extend it by using java

[jamesjguthrie]

Android or iOS apps is a good idea as kids will enjoy seeing the apps they've built running on their phones.

[csense]

Write video games in Python / Pygame.

Sweigart is a good online resource.