(2006-09-14) Brin Missing Basic

David Brin misses the days of kids learning Computer Programming with BASIC. (Stimulating Learning Projects, Language For Learning Programming)

• I don't agree that languages like Python create some horrible wall of abstraction. And I think Python is much better structured. And you don't even need to worry about Object Oriented stuff. (I agree that languages like VisualBasic that depend a lot on wizard-generated code are a bigger problem. Or various Domain Specific Language variants for artsy stuff, like Processing or Alice.) (Various commenters point out that JavaScript may be a good learning language that's de-facto available with every browser.)

• I'm also not very sympathetic to the Paradox Of Choice argument, with the lack of "standard" for a teaching language. I even bet that a lot of BASIC calculation code could be turned into Python really easily by a kid.

• I do think that a stumbling block is that the GUI output models have gotten so much more complicated. That's not about BASIC vs other languages, it's about MacOS/MsWindows vs DOS/Apple II crap. So what we need is something like WxWindows only for Wx Dos Console. (Personally, when I learned BASIC it was on a paper-based terminal, so I never got to learn video output stuff.)

In his Comments area, David reinforces that his key points are (a) you need a standard (and simple) language so that everyone can push it, and (b) MsWindows needs to include a compiler for it. Actually, he says he supports the Bundle Many Runtimes model in one place. But he still really wants a standard (de-facto imposed by Microsoft as the 800-lb gorilla) so that math books can count on it.

I Commented that the OLPC (which he mentions in passing) will have Python in it.