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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 06:27 PM

    Isn't Python the new BASIC?

    I know that the article mentioned that Python didn't fit the bill as a BASIC replacement for the author, but I am at a loss as to why.

    Python's syntax is very simple, and while it is not a strict superset of BASIC by any stretch, I think that they are close enough to serve the needs of beginning programmers, and it also provides plenty of headroom to grow as a programmer, should they take a shine to it.

    I don't want this letter to digress into an over-the-top Python advocacy piece, so I'll leave the benefits of Python as a language in the capable hands of python.org.

    --Mike

    —Mike Coyle

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