HACKER Q&A
📣 alufers

Best programming language to get a kid intrested in computers?


Hi! I've got a little cousin (9 years old) with whom I have already done some things on the computer. We played some games (of course) and I have shown him how to use basic features in excel and how to make plots.

He will soon be getting his own PC, so I would like to get him interested in programming. He can already read and write, and I think he knows enough English to begin some light programming.

I want to show him a programming language which allows him to draw graphics easily, so he doesn't get bored. It also has to be easy to install on a Windows PC.

I looked at Scratch, but I think a graphical programming language is too simplistic and dragging all of the stuff around is really unintuitive. I also considered Python and Javascript, but I think their ecosystem is too complicated for a kid to grasp and not get discouraged.

Thanks for the suggestions.

  👤 gus_massa Accepted Answer ✓
Don't underestimate Excel. It's very powerful and you can do a lot of interesting things. Have he tried recursive defined sequences, like A2=(1+A1)/2, A3=(1+A2)/2, A3=(1+A2)/2, ... ?

Python with the turtle package looks like a nice starting point. I didn't use it, but I programmed in Logo when I was young. Some link found in Google https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/draw-square-and-rectangle-in-t...

When he grows up, he can abandon syntax, and use all the parenthesis he saved while he was young.

👤 kaibee
If he's interested in games, might consider something like Gamemaker. Although the language there is Gamemaker specific (actually I last used Gamemaker in like 2009 so I could be off here), it'll teach all the same programming concepts you'd need to learn. Far more interactive than just drawing circles or w/e too.
👤 uberman
I recommend "Processing". It presents as a constrained form of javascript with easy to use graphics primatives. KahnAcademy uses it.

Nice and simple examples here: https://processing.org/examples/

If your cousin happens to be "into" Robolx you might also look a "Lua". Robolox (and many other games) uses it for scripting.

👤 catacombs
Python to learn the basics of programming. Then Unix/Bash for navigating the terminal. Then C to do everything else.