UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#1

Post by dsinha » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 11:35 PM UTC

UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java
jacobsschool.ucsd.edu

Re: UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#2

Post by schiang » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 11:41 PM UTC

super cool!

Re: UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#3

Post by aroberge » Wed, Apr 10, 2013, 12:07 AM UTC

A really nice idea ... but why, oh why did they have to choose a language that has a lot of extra scaffolding like Java instead of something simpler like Python, or Ruby?

Re: UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#4

Post by zmonkeyz » Wed, Apr 10, 2013, 12:11 AM UTC

This used to be called Robocode back in the day.

Re: UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#5

Post by rz2k » Wed, Apr 10, 2013, 12:19 AM UTC

aroberge wrote: post #3

A really nice idea ... but why, oh why did they have to choose a language that has a lot of extra scaffolding like Java instead of something simpler like Python, or Ruby?

Perhaps their next project will be a game that teaches kids how to smoke.

Re: UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#6

Post by Lost_BiomedE » Wed, Apr 10, 2013, 12:22 AM UTC

For Mac OSX 10.5 and Above.

I will have to check this out when I get access to a Mac that I can install it on. I loved the vim game at vim-adventures.com

Re: UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#7

Post by kyllo » Wed, Apr 10, 2013, 12:23 AM UTC

aroberge wrote: post #3

A really nice idea ... but why, oh why did they have to choose a language that has a lot of extra scaffolding like Java instead of something simpler like Python, or Ruby?

I'm guessing it's because "CSE 8A. Introduction to Computer Science" at UCSD is taught in Java.

A lot of universities start their CS students off with Java these days.

Re: UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#8

Post by exabrial » Wed, Apr 10, 2013, 12:42 AM UTC

rz2k wrote: post #5

aroberge wrote: post #3

A really nice idea ... but why, oh why did they have to choose a language that has a lot of extra scaffolding like Java instead of something simpler like Python, or Ruby?

Perhaps their next project will be a game that teaches kids how to smoke.

Java is a great choice for CS. It's similarity to C/C++ is handy for those who need to transition high performance computing or move to work on low level systems (kernels, drivers, embedded systems, etc). The JVM is also a great target for learning about virtual machines, since the JVM itself is quite an amazing virtual machine by it's own regard. The JVM can also be used to study a 'real life' implementation of stack machines, and Java bytecode can be used as a [gentler] introduction to assembly.

So yes, while you're startup may choose Python or Ruby or the latest language of the day, Java is a great system to teach a lot of fundamental computer science topics with.

Besides, Google uses it.

Re: UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#9

Post by jennyjenjen » Wed, Apr 10, 2013, 12:48 AM UTC

aroberge wrote: post #3

A really nice idea ... but why, oh why did they have to choose a language that has a lot of extra scaffolding like Java instead of something simpler like Python, or Ruby?

UCSD + Java = a love affair we may never be able to disrupt

Re: UCSD Computer Scientists Develop Video Game that Teaches How to Program in Java

#10

Post by jared314 » Wed, Apr 10, 2013, 12:54 AM UTC

I wonder if you could write an extension to an existing game/mmo to use the same code-as-spell system.