learning

[mtc2629]

What is the easiest code to learn for a kid

[c4757p]

Kids can write code?  Well, I for one accept our new hircine overlords.

Dude... what kind of "kid"? Do you mean for yourself?

[xrunner]

What is the easiest code to learn for a kid

FORTRAN.

Just kidding. Why not C? Might as well start off with something mainstream. Most of it isn't that hard to understand.

[tehmeme]

What are you going to use the code for?
Hardware control? Software?
How old is the kid?

I just noticed you joined and posted 5 posts all within 5 minutes, are you really looking for answers or is this a ploy to enter the contest?

[hechen]

python wouldn't be a bad place to start.

[Maximus64]

Python or C#

[Toble_Miner]

Also Java is not too bad to start with.

[JoshDS]

Python.

Lots of good stuff to read and watch here. Just find the Introduction To Computer Science course.
https://www.udacity.com

[Fsck]

python wouldn't be a bad place to start.

ditto. python's pretty damned easy. But C would be way more useful, especially since C++ gives you objects and a quick hop to CUDA.

[gman4925]

BASIC is pretty basic to learn, but also basic in it's ability.

[drake]

I would recommend python. You can play with it on a raspberry pi and do web side scripting too. I find most of my projects need an I/o device and using the webserver within python is a easy to use powerful tool where you don't need to reinevnt the wheel by trying to write your own ip based server.

[MrAureliusR]

I just noticed you joined and posted 5 posts all within 5 minutes, are you really looking for answers or is this a ploy to enter the contest?

I think this is what's going on... I hope Dave takes notice and disqualifies this person if that is the case. I'm not against posting 5 posts to enter the contest, but as Dave mentioned they have to be GOOD posts... not something vague and clearly thought up on the spot 

EDIT: just looked at mtc2629's posts, and yes it's very clear that's what they were doing as post #6 was an entry to the contest. I think it's very important a mod or admin look at this and see if it's someone double dipping!

[peter.mitchell]

x86 assembly.

[Greyersting]

What is the easiest code to learn for a kid

FORTRAN.

Just kidding. Why not C? Might as well start off with something mainstream. Most of it isn't that hard to understand.

I think C might scare a kid away.  He should try Python and if that is too much maybe go with C# (I will never recommend Visual Basic).

[AG6QR]

What is the easiest code to learn for a kid

Morse Code.


I agree, the "question" was one of several made in a really blatant attempt to get 5 posts for the contest.  I'll point out that the rules require five useful posts, so I can't imagine mtc2629's entry meeting the criteria.

Nevertheless, I still couldn't resist providing the correct answer.  Sorry.

[Greyersting]

x86 assembly.

Hah.  Everyone knows you need to know how to make punched cards before you can code.

[chibiace]

arduino perhaps.

[kizzap]

Definately solder. Easiest language to learn ever.

Pros:   Indiscriminate, Definitive, and Universal.
Cons: (see Pros)

Alternately program in Binary.

-kizzap

[BobbyK]

I will have to disagree with many of the answers here, even the serious ones - especially the serious ones!

If you want to get a kid or teenager interested in programming you don't choose your language for power, extensibility or even ease....you choose the language that will get them motivated to learn a lot more on their own - preferable a language that will allow them to create really cool things very fast. For that reason I suggest you introduce your kid to something like GameMaker.

Game Maker will allow any kid above 5 or 6 to make their own little interactive games with minimal scripting. It uses a very simple scripting language:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Maker_Language

that works mostly on objects in the game world, and is super easy to understand - and actually puts the kids in a very beneficial object-oriented mindset. It directly interfaces with visible on-screen game sprites and objects, and they won't need to wad through tons of libraries to learn the skill to make something that motivates them. I have taught quiet a few kids (7-12) how to use game maker, and most still use it today to prototype their ideas, and most have easily made the transition to other languages.

[tehmeme]

I just noticed you joined and posted 5 posts all within 5 minutes, are you really looking for answers or is this a ploy to enter the contest?

I think this is what's going on... I hope Dave takes notice and disqualifies this person if that is the case. I'm not against posting 5 posts to enter the contest, but as Dave mentioned they have to be GOOD posts... not something vague and clearly thought up on the spot 

EDIT: just looked at mtc2629's posts, and yes it's very clear that's what they were doing as post #6 was an entry to the contest. I think it's very important a mod or admin look at this and see if it's someone double dipping!

In my opinion joining for the contest is fine, but, putting the effort to respond in a meaningful way dictates that the op really wants an honest answer.

I've seen some new joiners post some good quality contributions to some pre-existing threads (much more valuable and meaningful than anything I have posted myself).  I only hope they continue to do so in the long run as this would be a welcome injection of new viewpoints, expertise and addition to the overall pool of knowledge and diversity.

I will have to disagree with many of the answers here, even the serious ones - especially the serious ones!

If you want to get a kid or teenager interested in programming you don't choose your language for power, extensibility or even ease....you choose the language that will get them motivated to learn a lot more on their own - preferable a language that will allow them to create really cool things very fast. For that reason I suggest you introduce your kid to something like GameMaker.

Game Maker will allow any kid above 5 or 6 to make their own little interactive games with minimal scripting. It uses a very simple scripting language:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Maker_Language

that works mostly on objects in the game world, and is super easy to understand - and actually puts the kids in a very beneficial object-oriented mindset. It directly interfaces with visible on-screen game sprites and objects, and they won't need to wad through tons of libraries to learn the skill to make something that motivates them. I have taught quiet a few kids (7-12) how to use game maker, and most still use it today to prototype their ideas, and most have easily made the transition to other languages.

I concur, your response is insightful and hits the nail squarely on the head. At younger ages motivation and a clear achievable target are prime triggers for a continued interest in the subject, assuming the op's idea of a "kid" is of that age range and assuming no prior knowledge of any other language or programming concepts.

[HamiltonHipster]

  Just look for anything that interests you and start there.

  Learning a programming language can often be secondary to wanting to do something cool with game-development or whatever the interest is in.   I only seriously learnt math because of electronics 

Good luck

[Rigby]

If you're going to do object orientation, then stick with it all the way.  I think a child would grasp OO far more easily than an adult with previous coding experience.  OO is kind of the natural way to program, to me, even though I cut my programming teeth on Perl and PHP.

I don't know jack about Python, but it has always turned me off because of the followers.  Anything a lot of people get very zealous about is something to be avoided, IMO.  In the circles I'm usually involved in Python is talked about a lot, and if even half the stuff I've heard is true, Python is better than any language ever invented, past, present or future.  There is NO WAY a single language can be as good for every problem as I've heard.

Don't underestimate children; they're smart.  Don't pick a kiddy language like Logo or Basic.  A child can learn proper OO techniques and Java or C# at the same time.  Teach them what you're capable of teaching them, really.  They're going to come to you for questions; be ready with the answers.

[Lifeboat_Jim]

I'd say C#, if there are no other considerations.

As a beginner you want a language that is fully 'managed', with plenty of documentation & tutorials etc. People soon run into problems with C, or even C++ when it comes to structures and memory management. Python would be another good alternative (and quite a few packages are using Python derived for internal scripting such as Blender).

[victor]

Code academy is a great start point with Javascript, I would highly recommend it.
And once you get your mind around it dive into C  foundation of everything out there.

I would stay away from Java at first look, there are too many distractions of IDEs and Libraries, focus on the programming logic first, when you're comfortable with algorithms you can focus on learning libraries and frameworks.

codeacademy.com

[TheTurnerFromNorway]

What is the easiest code to learn for a kid

Python perhaps? It is easy and powerful.
TheNewBoston on youtube have many tutorials on programming, you should check him out! His Python tutorials can
be found here: http://thenewboston.org/list.php?cat=36

[travellerw]

If you just want them to learn how coding works and basic things like logic trees, IFs, Case and loops then I would start them in VBS. You can start writing VBS scripts to do various useful things on your Windows computer (like empty recycle bin when too full). Its a great way to get exposed to programming and there are millions (and I mean millions) of lines of code on the Internet if you get stuck.

Heck I still use basic everyday when I need to bang something out quick and dirty (I use Proton for PICS).

[logman]

c++

[ivaylo]

If you don't want to scare the kid away try http://scratch.mit.edu first.

[hedgewallace]

The easiest code would probably be HTML.
I have done quite a bit of HTML, and i find it very easy.
I have made very simple websites, to more complex websites by watching YouTube videos.
It is very easy to understand, and pick up.
There are many programs that you can use to code HTML. Even notepad can be used.

[fluxcapacitor]

+1 for scratch , on a raspberry pi ,then move them onto python or even perl ,then C / C++ .If coding comes naturally to them theyll try more languages and find their own way .

[Stonent]

I learned basic when I was about 6 years old. I think Arduino could become the new basic and it is a good entry into c and c++.

I also learned logo as a kid and remember really liking PASCAL but it's a useless language for the most part now.

Visual Basic would always be a good one as well.

[ivaylo]

+1 for scratch , on a raspberry pi

For a gentle introduction I'd do Scratch on a PC/laptop then move straight to  http://beta.appinventor.mit.edu/about/ (after setting it up for the kid). It's the same concept but the wow factor is immense. It's absurd but with all this technology at your fingertips today I feel it is actually getting harder if you are a kid to do anything electronics/programming and impress your friends (unlike the 80s when a 2 transistor bicycle siren on a mangled PCB got me older kids' respect and a little business on the side). Now, showing them something on the phone you did, wow... Otherwise you have to have a pretty nerdy kid to be able to hit them straight with object orientation, raspberry pi and what not and not make them think you are weird.

[WhiteWolf]

Java is easy to start learning from and then move on to C or C++

[Gravity1337]

Any C-based/style will be the best foundation for understanding other languages. Most of the stuff mentioned falls into this category - stay away from the quirky "fashionable" stuff that pops up all the time. Stick with the tried and true

[geraldjhg]

morse code

[Stonent]

I went from Basic to DOS batch and then pascal in HS and college and then C. I've dabbled a little in Bourne/Bash scripting and have modified python scripts without having any training in it. HTML I typically steal some code from a webpage that is useful. Visual basic I tend to Google what I need and use it.