[ale] [OT] First Programming Language for Adult??

leam hall leamhall at gmail.com
Thu May 29 15:51:08 EDT 2014


One thing I'd add is that some languages are more "fun" for an individual.
So whatever she picks, ensure she's having fun. Otherwise programming is a
drag.

+1 to Go as well. However, after Python and Javascript. Go is the up and
coming C.

Leam



On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 3:40 PM, Ed Cashin <ecashin at noserose.net> wrote:

> Wow.  The real answer would be a great book or series of books.
>
> But because you know I'm not going to answer with a series of books, I
> suppose a highly condensed summary of my own biases and perspectives will
> be welcome.
>
> I like your idea of introducing python and Java next, for these reasons:
>
>   * Learning any language is good.  You gain insight into how intelligent
> people who are not you think about solving problems, and you improve your
> ability to learn programming languages and idioms.  This meta skill is
> significantly more valuable than any specific skill.
>
>   * Python is hugely popular, with mature and well used libraries and sets
> of documentation.  It is a great representative of a dynamic scripting
> language.
>
>   * Java is highly popular but is kind of clunky.  It is great to know it,
> but it's also good to be aware that people are using things like Scala to
> use the JVM without so much clunk.  (Again, this is a biased personal
> perspective.)
>
> For going beyond, I might suggest Go.  It is not wildly popular and is
> very different in other ways from the other two.  Its designers are smart
> people with broad backgrounds, and as a language, it is exceptionally
> current in its design goals.
>
>   http://golang.org/
>
> It has an online "tour" that can be used as an educational tool.
>
> I'm assuming you know about Code Academy.  I'll go out on a limb and
> assert that everyone needs to know Javascript today, and it's pretty easy
> to pick it up there.  Douglas Crockford's lectures will help tighten up a
> casual introduction to Javascript if serious use is imminent.
>
>
>
> On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 3:17 PM, Tom Freeman <tfreeman at intel.digichem.net>
> wrote:
>
>>
>> My apologies for using up people's bandwidth for something not really
>> linux, but this list is the best resource I know of for access to computer
>> people with an insane breadth of backgrounds and opinions. And they are
>> willing to share.
>>
>> A few days ago my daughter asked for an opinion as to a computer language
>> for her to learn. No, she doesn't have a project in mind, which would have
>> at least focused the discussion a little bit. She is a university
>> librarian, however, should that have any bearing on the discussion. She has
>> access to a moderate amount of materials for "Alice", which apparently her
>> school uses for programming introduction.
>>
>> My advice, which should be considered highly flawed, was to take
>> advantage of the "Alice" materials as a first, quick step. Follow that with
>> perhaps either some work in Python or Java, with the Java due to her
>> constant involvement in tiny web projects.
>>
>> If the Python or Java settles, and the itch continues, I was suggesting a
>> second language, possibly data base oriented for the library work, or
>> something derived from either FORTH or LISP for the mind expansion
>> properties. As yet another alternative - cshell(?) since she prefers the
>> macintoy.
>>
>> (I had a relative utterly in love with FORTH and very good at it also.
>> Unfortunately, he thought _everybody_ should program in it... Not a very
>> successful idea unfortunately.)
>>
>> The multipart question here seems to be:
>> 1) Is there a proper solid resource for building some programming skill
>> that I should have know about and don't?
>> 2) Did I suggest a moderately reasonable approach in the eyes of people
>> who _actaully_ program?
>> 3) Is there probably a better approach I should have known about?
>>
>> Thanks to all for the use of their bandwidth.
>>
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>
>
>
> --
>   Ed Cashin <ecashin at noserose.net>
>   http://noserose.net/e/
>   http://www.coraid.com/
>
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>


-- 
Mind on a Mission <http://leamhall.blogspot.com/>
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