This letter is associated with the following article:
Letters
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

Read other letters about this article

  • Wednesday, September 13, 2006 08:33 PM

    Many already said this...

    This article is really stupid, uninformed, and idiotic tripe like most of the earlier posters said. Python, Ruby, and even PHP and Perl are languages that are as easy to learn, readily available and much more useful and instructional than BASIC ever was. All of them are actually preinstalled on Mac OS X, by the way.

    But three years of trying to install a basic BASIC interpreter on a Mac? It took me 90 seconds. Google "OS X Basic programming language", download Chipmunk BASIC from http://www.nicholson.com/rhn/basic/, open DMG, start command line version, type PRINT "HELLO".

    Please stop sending me email asking me to renew my premium subscription until you have premium content again.

    —lelitsch Read lelitsch's other letters

    Flag
Read other letters about this article

Most Active Letters Threads

495

The crazy, irrational beliefs of Muslims

Tom Friedman explains the real problem: stupid Muslims think the U.S. is about war and aggression.
Glenn Greenwald Read article
426

A key British official reminds us of the forgotten anthrax attack

A vast array of establishment and expert sources do not believe this episode was really resolved.
Glenn Greenwald Read article
242

The face of rotted Washington

Evan Bayh demands more debt-financed war - fought by others - while boasting that he's a stern "deficit hawk."
Glenn Greenwald Read article
210

Is Obama's civil liberties record understandable?

Was it unreasonable to expect him to adhere to his commitments regarding the Constitution?
Glenn Greenwald Read article
111

How dare you criticize wasteful defense spending!

So you think it's only terrorist-appeasing lefties who are down on Pentagon profligacy? Think again
By David Sirota Read article

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon