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So I just gave this link to my non-technical wife for the ultimate test. She is actually making pretty good progress. I'll update this as she progresses.
> 52 minutes ago No updates? :( Cause I was interested in real-world experiences, not just programmers testing the programming learning tool.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nothing wrong with using JavaScript as a base.
Of course there is. Learning how to be a developer with JavaScript is like learning how to become a mechanic by fixing Rube Goldberg machines.
I hate being negative, but I have to say that I really don't think this an effective way to learn how to code for someone without some programming knowledge to begin with. I just watched someone with no programming experience whatsoever try the problems. She's smart and well educated. The basic arithmetic is (obviously) fine. Basic variable assignment is fine, although the 'var' keyword doesn't really serve a purpose…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course there is. Learning how to be a developer with JavaScript is like learning how to become a mechanic by fixing Rube Goldberg machines.
that's a pretty biased assumption. javascript is a perfectly fine language to learn to code in, especially given its prevalence and penetration. there's some weirdness to it, yes, but every language has its quirks.
My problems: 1. This doesn't teach you how to code, this teaches you how to read code and learn arithmetic logic that goes with programming. 2. You use Javascript as a base.
The site doesn't claim to teach how to code (although the HN link title does).
My problems: 1. This doesn't teach you how to code, this teaches you how to read code and learn arithmetic logic that goes with programming. 2. You use Javascript as a base.
It teaches how variables work though, which can be one of the toughest parts about understanding code.
It's like getting aspiring artists to draw a bunch of stick figures and random shapes. They aren't learning anything that will help them paint a masterpiece, they're just learning to paint for the sake of painting.
This is a side project, and the goal is not to teach how to code. I agree with several comments here, it's sometime confusing, it's short and minimalistic. The real goal is far less ambitious. I just wanted people to catch a glimpse of what is coding. It's like stepping into un unknown world for a few minutes. And it's not aimed at everybody. Some people are driven away by written explanations, or can feel patronized very quick, and I wanted to address that. Here, the first questions make you feel confident, then with tries and errors, by yourself (or apparently so) you understand a bit how this works.
The story behind this is : I was never able to explain how code works to my wife. She is math-o-phobic and she never gave me the chance to explain... just the fact of explaining something like this scares her away. But one day, sitting next to her on the train, I opened my JavaScript console and began typing 3 + 4, then without a word I pointed the keyboard and screen to her... 20 minutes later we were doing functions and variables, without even a word. This is how this project was born.
Sorry for those who where mislead by the title of this HN post. We have other tools currently in development to address code teaching (one more focused on code reading, one more focused on creativity, one more focus on JavaScript ...), and only when 3 or 4 of these will be published will we be able to teach properly to a larger audience.
Thanks for all the feedback today, I really appreciate it.
I hate being negative, but I have to say that I really don't think this an effective way to learn how to code for someone without some programming knowledge to begin with. I just watched someone with no programming experience whatsoever try the problems. She's smart and well educated. The basic arithmetic is (obviously) fine. Basic variable assignment is fine, although the 'var' keyword doesn't really serve a purpose…
I also hate being negative and I agree with your main point. That said I don't believe that someone with "no programming experience whatsoever" truly qualifies as "well educated" in this day and age.
It's like someone who doesn't know what an interest rate is or someone familiar with none of the major literary cannon of their first language. They might be very intelligent but their education has a gaping hole in it.