|
[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]
|
Re: [PLUG] Educational Languages
|
On Tue, Mar 20, 2007 at 06:04:40PM -0400, Alex Launi wrote:
> I have the feeling no one else on this list is going to agree with me
> but I'm just out of high school and the languages we were taught in our
> cs classes were java and C++. Currently the AP Board has java for AP
> computer science so for your students (I am assuming these are high or
> middle school students) so starting them on java could be beneficial for
> them later if they decide to take the ap cs exam. --Alex Launi
>
Well, I'll agree with you on Java. My take on Java is that it was designed to keep novice programmers from chopping their
fingers off, unlike C or C++, which are more like power saws without bladeguards.
There are a number of things I don't like about Java, and some things Java does that I think an experienced developer can do
better in other languages, but for beginning programmers, especially in high school or middle school, the automatic memory
handling (garbage collection, etc.), strong typing, and a development environment that handles a fair amount of the
nit-picking makes a good starting point.
Also, I'm about to put my money where my mouth is by running an informal class for my son and some of his peers at our
church, all in the 7-10th grade range.
Carl "Rushing in where angels fear to tread" Gustafson
___________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org
Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
|
|