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Show HN: Codecademy.com, the easiest way to learn to code

codecademy.com

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Re: Show HN: Codecademy.com, the easiest way to learn to code

#101

Post by tdfx »

dusklight wrote: post #93

Why doesn't this say right at the very beginning what language you are trying to teach? The tone of the site is incredibly arrogant. What makes you qualified to teach? Have you heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect? It should be more explicit that this site is teaching Javascript (are you teaching other languages? it is not clear) and it is for complete beginners, and that the site creators make some very patronizing as…

I agree that the site should mention that the user will be programming in Javascript... but I'm not sure where you were going with the rest of that. "Arrogant" is definitely not the word I would use there.

Re: Show HN: Codecademy.com, the easiest way to learn to code

#102

Post by planckscnst »

zachshallbetter wrote: post #98
planckscnst wrote: post #97

It isn't completely clear what Variables -> CaSeS wants me to do. It seems like it's asking for: myFullName = "Thomas Edison" But it's reminding me of making sure my variable names are correct, so maybe: myFullName = myName lastName That doesn't work. Because I'm a programmer, I know that the + operator concatenates strings, but I don't think everyone will think consider that, and it hasn't been mentioned at that poi…

It was looking for var myFullName = "First Last";

Why does the hint suggest making sure case is right then? I can't imagine a mistake someone would make where that would be a helpful hint.

Re: Show HN: Codecademy.com, the easiest way to learn to code

#103

Post by raster_blaster »

Hah, it even keeps the cursor from blinking. I wonder if it's hardcoded or if it actually picked that up from my system settings.

I've never done Javascript before (although I do or did Python/C/C++/D/Pascal/AHK), this will be interesting. Great job!

Re: Show HN: Codecademy.com, the easiest way to learn to code

#105

Post by zachshallbetter »

planckscnst wrote: post #102
zachshallbetter wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was looking for var myFullName = "First Last";

Why does the hint suggest making sure case is right then? I can't imagine a mistake someone would make where that would be a helpful hint.

Dunno, I didn't write it. I actually refreshed once because I thought there was an error. I then realized it was my fault after looking at the previous question.

Re: Show HN: Codecademy.com, the easiest way to learn to code

#106

Post by fredBuddemeyer »

zds wrote: post #2

I've been a longtime member @ HN, but I haven't been a developer. In fact, my only HN submission has been one asking how to learn to code ( http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=820741 ). We decided to solve the problem by making a simple, interactive way to get started with Codecademy. We'd love your feedback. If you're interested in helping us to get more courses up (on any topic!), please send us an email at HN (at)…

this must be why you have such a unique empathy for the user. you've truly put yourself in the user's shoes instead of lecturing.

its obvious something is great when you instantly think why the hell hasn't everything been like this all along.

Re: Show HN: Codecademy.com, the easiest way to learn to code

#107

Post by aik »

dusklight wrote: post #93

Why doesn't this say right at the very beginning what language you are trying to teach? The tone of the site is incredibly arrogant. What makes you qualified to teach? Have you heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect? It should be more explicit that this site is teaching Javascript (are you teaching other languages? it is not clear) and it is for complete beginners, and that the site creators make some very patronizing as…

I think it would be more beneficial to the authors if you explained why the tone is arrogant? Also, why do you assume the authors aren't qualified to teach -- why do you immediately assume them to be incompetent by noting the Dunner-Kruger effect (that sounds a bit arrogant to me?)? On the same note, what exactly do you believe makes someone qualified to teach? One more question -- what exactly is wrong with targeting complete beginners? Please explain how that is patronizing -- it is a fact that some people in this world don't have programming experience, are OK with that, and would be happy to learn.

Re: Show HN: Codecademy.com, the easiest way to learn to code

#108

Post by nextparadigms »

I hope you can add Android/Java programming later on. But until then you should probably focus on web languages. Very nice site. When I'll decide to learn Javascript, yours will be the first I'll try. Great name, too. I hope you can expand it quickly. Good luck.

Re: Show HN: Codecademy.com, the easiest way to learn to code

#110

Post by Cushman »

Just FYI, since I assume it doesn't come up in the lessons, your REPL doesn't like objects that self-reference, even though it isn't trying to print them out.

  > o = {}
  > o.o = o
  ==> [object Object]
  ERROR: Maximum call stack size exceeded
This isn't totally unusual; `window` has several self-references, for example, and hangs for several seconds.
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