dejo
Moderator emeritus
I would think that an introduction to programming for children would probably be more along the lines of "Learn Code the Easy Way". 🙂
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macOS Am I too old to start programming?
- Thread starter WhiteIphone5
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I would think that an introduction to programming for children would probably be more along the lines of "Learn Code the Easy Way". 🙂
Snake Wrangling for Kids
You could try the ebook "Snake Wrangling for Kids" at http://briggs.net.nz/snake-wrangling-for-kids.html. There are PDF files of Mac, Windows, and Linux versions that teach kids to program in Python (version 3, but older versions o the book teach Python 2 as well). They explain the concepts of programming at the same time as they teach them how to use them in Python.
HTH.
You could try the ebook "Snake Wrangling for Kids" at http://briggs.net.nz/snake-wrangling-for-kids.html. There are PDF files of Mac, Windows, and Linux versions that teach kids to program in Python (version 3, but older versions o the book teach Python 2 as well). They explain the concepts of programming at the same time as they teach them how to use them in Python.
HTH.
ArtOfWarfare
macrumors G3
Sooner or later, you're going to hit hard tasks in coding. The Learn Code the Hard Way prepares you for it from the very beginning. If you don't like challenges and problems (and solving / overcoming them,) then you shouldn't be coding.
Scrub175
macrumors 6502
I think I'm going to follow your lead and go with Learn C the hard way. The author suggests new folks start with python. In python it is suggested to work on command line so I went with his tutorial with that first.
Where did u start and what are you working on. Perhaps we could keep pace together and group study through this.
63dot
macrumors 603
It's never too late to learn anything, especially programming. It's forgiving if you start late in that many a programmer who spent a ton of time in old languages kind of have to relearn, too.
It's unforgiving in that even if you have mad skills, it's all too often if you are bleeding edge current. It was tough in the past to keep up but these days are even more relevant as to being into the latest and greatest. It's not like medicine where practitioners had to go to get an MD or RN and thus somewhat lockstep, but it's rather like being a rock star in that most successful people in the field don't have a specific music degree but more passion than academic credentials. Programmers who are successful range from teens still in school to middle aged PhDs in computer science.
Whether you are experienced or a newbie, all have to constantly learn stuff and your passion is the only ingredient for success. You can't do this for long if you are not into it.
It's unforgiving in that even if you have mad skills, it's all too often if you are bleeding edge current. It was tough in the past to keep up but these days are even more relevant as to being into the latest and greatest. It's not like medicine where practitioners had to go to get an MD or RN and thus somewhat lockstep, but it's rather like being a rock star in that most successful people in the field don't have a specific music degree but more passion than academic credentials. Programmers who are successful range from teens still in school to middle aged PhDs in computer science.
Whether you are experienced or a newbie, all have to constantly learn stuff and your passion is the only ingredient for success. You can't do this for long if you are not into it.
You can start Objective-C straight away using Steven Kochan's "Programming in Objective-C". It assumes no prior programming experience. A lot of people would say you should learn C first. For me personally the opposite ended up being more fruitful. I dived into Obj-C, and then started learning about C and had a few eye-openers and a-ha moments that tied into my experience with Obj-C. Worked really well for me.
It might also be useful to do a free online course like those offered at Coursera and edX. The ones at edX ties a programming language in with computer science more than maybe focused programming courses: 6.00x at edX dives into OOP with Python and some random algorithms and monte carlo methods, and CS50 tackles mainly C, but deals with other CS stuff like different sorting algorithms. Over at Coursera there's loads of others! Udacity also has good programming courses.
But I think the most important thing is not to get stuck learning one language - I picked up loads of books and numerous tutorials over the internet on different languages all the time, whatever interested me at the time - and you quickly realise that most of the concepts all tie into each other and appear in the other languages.
Good luck!
It might also be useful to do a free online course like those offered at Coursera and edX. The ones at edX ties a programming language in with computer science more than maybe focused programming courses: 6.00x at edX dives into OOP with Python and some random algorithms and monte carlo methods, and CS50 tackles mainly C, but deals with other CS stuff like different sorting algorithms. Over at Coursera there's loads of others! Udacity also has good programming courses.
But I think the most important thing is not to get stuck learning one language - I picked up loads of books and numerous tutorials over the internet on different languages all the time, whatever interested me at the time - and you quickly realise that most of the concepts all tie into each other and appear in the other languages.
Good luck!
ArtOfWarfare
macrumors G3
I did the same thing. It would have been nicer to have had those a-ha moments from the start.
What makes you thinks that it's not important to teach and write about obsolete stuff? That may actually be the most important thing you can teach, as it's how you got to where you are now.
The people who only learn the "new thing" have no idea how little they know.
7enderbender
macrumors 6502a
What?? Why would you be too old? It's not rocket science really. And guess what: people learn rocket science as well. Even at the geriatric age of over 20.
Gee - I'm over 40 and I'm constantly trying to learn and pick up new things. Without a physical or mental limitation you pretty much do anything you like. Most certainly as a healthy 20 year old. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
ArtOfWarfare
macrumors G3
I can think of a few people who would argue otherwise as far as physical limitations keeping you from such things, namely
driveparty
macrumors regular
you must not think of it, just do it
I believe (and got it proven by my own experience), one needs nothing, but being really interested, or even passionate to the matter in order to get "professional". Nevertheless, the trick is one must be DOING it, not thinking of, if is he capable or not 🙂
By the way, i have never learned English, just was using it to read all that programming and other, mostly technical books with a dictionary first. Than i was reading some everyday texts, listening to the music, TV, (online) radio and so on, and now i can really speak it. Way not as fluent and correctly, as my native language, or even Spanish, which i was learning in the school, but however... Just because i was in need of it, and i was doing to use it no more, no less!
I believe (and got it proven by my own experience), one needs nothing, but being really interested, or even passionate to the matter in order to get "professional". Nevertheless, the trick is one must be DOING it, not thinking of, if is he capable or not 🙂
By the way, i have never learned English, just was using it to read all that programming and other, mostly technical books with a dictionary first. Than i was reading some everyday texts, listening to the music, TV, (online) radio and so on, and now i can really speak it. Way not as fluent and correctly, as my native language, or even Spanish, which i was learning in the school, but however... Just because i was in need of it, and i was doing to use it no more, no less!
TyPod
macrumors 68000
Hey bud, sorry I've been really busy. Right now I'm about to start following the terminal guide, as I'm not very familiar with terminal.
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Thank you for sharing. Really.
I don't know where I found this link (most likely on the Macrumors forum), but I bookmarked it in case I ever get around to learning how to program (also no experience programming except for an intro class where I learned Alice, a teaching language):
http://masters-of-the-void.com
Whatever thread I was reading at the time led me to believe it was a good intro to learning C on a Mac. Unfortunately my community college doesn't teach C or Java, which I find really odd. And I have trouble sticking with things if it's not in class form. But maybe this summer!
But to the OP, if you've already found something, stick with it. I was just posting this in case anyone else was interested.
http://masters-of-the-void.com
Whatever thread I was reading at the time led me to believe it was a good intro to learning C on a Mac. Unfortunately my community college doesn't teach C or Java, which I find really odd. And I have trouble sticking with things if it's not in class form. But maybe this summer!
But to the OP, if you've already found something, stick with it. I was just posting this in case anyone else was interested.
960design
macrumors 68040
If you are starting out with Java, may I recommend: http://www.greenfoot.org/door
We are piloting it with a 6th grade programming club. Our goal is to expand the club as they progress through school.
7th -8th grade: BlueJay (if they wish) and very small introduction to Eclipse, Netbeans, Coda to show them the differences in IDEs.
9th grade+ will be XCode and app development for Mac and iOS.
Hopefully by the time they graduate they will be programmers in their own right, with just enough knowledge to know what they want to learn and how to learn it.
We are piloting it with a 6th grade programming club. Our goal is to expand the club as they progress through school.
7th -8th grade: BlueJay (if they wish) and very small introduction to Eclipse, Netbeans, Coda to show them the differences in IDEs.
9th grade+ will be XCode and app development for Mac and iOS.
Hopefully by the time they graduate they will be programmers in their own right, with just enough knowledge to know what they want to learn and how to learn it.
Everyone will jump on me, but I started with fortran. That's all I use, for scientific programming, even today. That was 1958! For scientific programming today, I expect the "correct" answer is C. For e.g. computer games, I have no idea, and of course no interest anyway. Programming is fun, it is nice to see what you visualized actually appear on the screen!
ArtOfWarfare
macrumors G3
I believe the "correct" answer for both computer games and scientific programming today is C++. MatLab might also be the "correct" answer for scientific programming.
Although C is still being used, I'm finding a lot of people are taught it but think it's C++ despite the fact they utilize none of C++'s features (IE, namespaces, classes, and templates.)
Fortran
I am 38 years old.
And I would like to start programming and many other things. Once you like something go for it, the energy, enthusiasm and imagination start to flow.
I am about to take a training in marketing and another ion sales. I am an audio engineer, digital media associate in science and project manager, all those titles.
I am doing video editing, 3D and sound design as well as motion graphics.
Last year I started this crazy idea in digging into spiritualism, Santeria, witchcraft and all that, even voodoo!
And now I am back with God and starting new businesses and if possible life coaching.
Learning programming? I would love to, I just do not have time and the need right now.
And I would like to start programming and many other things. Once you like something go for it, the energy, enthusiasm and imagination start to flow.
I am about to take a training in marketing and another ion sales. I am an audio engineer, digital media associate in science and project manager, all those titles.
I am doing video editing, 3D and sound design as well as motion graphics.
Last year I started this crazy idea in digging into spiritualism, Santeria, witchcraft and all that, even voodoo!
And now I am back with God and starting new businesses and if possible life coaching.
Learning programming? I would love to, I just do not have time and the need right now.
