Where should an 11-12 year old Start?

[XianForce]

My brother wants to get into programming and he's 11 right now. He's a pretty sharp kid, so I was thinking he could probably start off with Python and work his way up from there. But does anyone else have any other recommendations?

[MarauderIIC]

I dunno, maybe Ginto does :)

[XianForce]

lol...

GINTO WHERE THE CRAP ARE YOU?

[Rhys]

Start by navigating windows.

[Netwatcher]

I've started this year(age 16) with python, then after about two months went to C++, mostly from looking at C++ code repeatedly...
I regret I didn't start at an early age, could've done so much by now...

Python is a great start, I don't know about your brother though, maybe Visual Basic will be better for him.

if he had experience with a program like RPG maker, that could be a plus, you can make some simple scripts there and you get the hang of programming... well kinda...
did he had any exposure to things of that kind(Game makers,HTML or any other mark-up language, etc...)?






Cheers,
Netwatcher

[programmerinprogress]

Throw him in at the deep end!

I'm being serious, explain to him WHY you use code to program, and what it leads to, tell him to learn the fundamentals of programming, coach him if you will, let him play around with the console and them drop him into the world of a programming library

when it comes to programming, almost all programming languages follow have similar/the same constructs, I find C++ constructs to be raw and flexible, so I would suggest that you teach him that.

But that's just my opinion, all i'm saying is, I would have LOVED to have had someone to tell me how to set up a C++ compiler, and get me started at age 11, I was very confused about how to actually get started until I was about 14, so being given some simple advice would have been super

[Martijn]

I'd say YOU teach him C++ or C#.

[XianForce]

Throw him in at the deep end!

I'm being serious, explain to him WHY you use code to program, and what it leads to, tell him to learn the fundamentals of programming, coach him if you will, let him play around with the console and them drop him into the world of a programming library

when it comes to programming, almost all programming languages follow have similar/the same constructs, I find C++ constructs to be raw and flexible, so I would suggest that you teach him that.

But that's just my opinion, all i'm saying is, I would have LOVED to have had someone to tell me how to set up a C++ compiler, and get me started at age 11, I was very confused about how to actually get started until I was about 14, so being given some simple advice would have been super

Well he's used GameMaker stuff. I explain programming to him, but if I throw him in at the deep end, I don't want him to think it's too hard for him at that age, because it's not. Then he'll wait til he's my age to start, then he'll be like me, wishing he started earlier. It's all about him learning the basics to set him up for more difficult stuff like C/C++, C#, Java, etc.

I was thinking maybe a game making language (I think Blitz is one?) But I'm not sure on how difficult that is, never even seen it.

Anyone know how difficult Blitz is? (I think that's the name of it, but I doubt it is, it's probably something similar...)

[Innerscope]

Anyone know how difficult Blitz is? (I think that's the name of it, but I doubt it is, it's probably something similar...)

I think BlitzBASIC is a really good language for someone that age to start with. That and Yoyo Games' Gamemaker.
When I was that age (maybe a bit younger) I used CocoaDR3 (note: not the API) and Stagecast. Then around 12-13 I started using VisualBASIC.

[rolland]

I agree with PiP--start him on c++. Maybe I'm just biased because it was my first language, but I found it to be a very simple way to start.

[Innerscope]

I'm going to disagree with everyone who said start with C++. There's a lot of advanced concepts that I'd imagine an 11 year-old would have trouble understanding. Sure, he could have a console based program up and running in a reasonable amount of time, but I'll assume that's not very enticing for a kid his age.

[Pickzell]

GAME MAKER!!!

[RyanPridgeon]

I'm also voting that you throw him straight into C.

I'd say all the scripting I did before C and C++ was a complete waste of time for me. I could easily have picked up C with only marginally more effort than the shitty stuff I was using, so I'd say he spend that extra effort to go straight into the deep end than learn a whole language then have to re-learn for a new language.

[XianForce]

Well the goal is to get him used to the basics. He has passion for it, I set him up on Game Maker because I thought it was a good place to start at such a young age (he was like 8). Now he wants to start the actual programming, but Python/BlitzBasic (thanks for the name Innerscope, couldn't remember it for the life of me). Python/BlitzBasic should get his feet wet and teach him the basics, and start getting used to the dev process. I was thinking he could start something that will be more worth while like C/C++, C#, Java, etc.

I'm thinking of just showing him some real real basic stuff in C++, just so he can get an idea of what's going on, and if he handles it well, keep going, but if it's too much for him, take a step back to Python or BlitzBasic.

[Netwatcher]

yea, get him to C/++! (biased opinion, but most people here are biased towards C, so it's ok I think )
game maker is a good start, but you don't have to take that huge step back to python, you can let him play with C#'s XNA.