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Thursday, September 14, 2006 12:00 AM

Why Johnny can't code

BASIC used to be on every computer a child touched -- but today there's no easy way for kids to get hooked on programming.
By David Brin

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  • Thursday, September 14, 2006 04:45 AM

    BASIC?

    What about 'true basic'?

    Could it be that the demise of BASIC is also linked to the paranoia about birthing a whole new horde of hackers and crackers that will cause mischief on the internets?

    I seem to remember some translators from BASIC to C. HAH, try to find a straight 'C' compiler anymore... I think that you can still download Turbo C for free and there was a version of BASIC and Pascal by Borland as well.

    Yes, it's a shame that current support for BASIC has died. Ahh the halcyon days of my youth with a TRS-80 and a cassette deck...

    —Pinky Read Pinky's other letters

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