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Ask HN: Learning to code, without a computer?

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Re: Ask HN: Learning to code, without a computer?

#161

Post by db48x »

inimino wrote: post #155
db48x wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

SICP is an introductory text, and is usually taught to first-year undergraduates. We don't even know what sort of educational background this friend has, but if he can do algebra, then he'll be able to do the exercises in the first chapter and check his answers. Furthermore, because Scheme uses the substitution model, doing the exercises on paper is possible. It'll take care and attention to detail, but every Scheme…

SICP is perfect for studying without a computer. I've done it that way and it was a great experience. However, while it is presented as an introductory textbook, it moves fast . It depends on the learner.

Hmm. The pages move only as fast as you turn them :)

It's probably safe say that it's more concise than others that I have read. A sentence in SICP could become a paragraph in a lesser book.

Re: Ask HN: Learning to code, without a computer?

#162

Post by yarou »

Try to teach him the lambda calculus. Church-Turing thesis still holds today, so if he's able to learn the lambda calculus he will understand what functions are indeed computable, and what functions are impossible to compute, regardless of hardware, software, etc.

You don't need to have a computer (Von-Neumann et al didn't have one!) to invent a brilliant algorithm.

Re: Ask HN: Learning to code, without a computer?

#164

Post by i336_ »

Pulce wrote: post #71
rukittenme wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're being incarcerated for advocating civil rights, then you're doing it wrong. There are plenty of ways to affect change without committing a crime.

Nice comment. Come in Italy and I'll show you some way to be condamned while acting in a ethic way :) edit: I am a condamned and I didn't commit a crime.

I'm really sorry to hear that.

Suggestion: put everything in an encrypted file (I think .7z is good, AFAIK .zip is very bad), send that to lots of people. If anything happens to you, it should be manageable to get the passphrase to somebody.

PS. HN is using HTTPS

Re: Ask HN: Learning to code, without a computer?

#165

Post by on_and_off »

My first programming courses were all done with pen and paper.

Understanding how variables, loops, stacks and so on work was all done by writing the algorithms, and our first contact with a computer was in order to write some assembly code, after something like 2 months.

That's not ideal but you can already learn a lot without actually writing code to a computer.

Having access to a programmable calculator or even better to a smartphone would obviously be better.

Would he be able to get some kind of no-name android portable media player and write code on that ?

A simple google search leads me to QPython, I am sure there are tons of other IDEs running on Android. That might be the best option if he has access to such a device.

Re: Ask HN: Learning to code, without a computer?

#166

Post by txutxu »

I did a LOGO programming course before having a computer, but we did have computers in the course. That did help.

One thing that did help me a lot when I didn't have computer or fast internet connection, were: the computing and programming paper magazines.

Maybe you can research for your friend programming magazines (on paper) which are available nowadays; and he can subscribe to them. Maybe he can even redistribute or perform as internal reseller once done with the chapters.

They use to treat diverse topics on monthly steps, and is a convenient way to assimilate knowledge. Ones are better than others and introduce less partial views... you must view on your own.

I can't help, because I'm many years without buying one.

Re: Ask HN: Learning to code, without a computer?

#167

Post by loup-vaillant »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #66
mbertschler wrote: post #36

What is the most capable programmable device, that would not be considered a computer by the rules? How about a graphical calculator like a TI-83? While I was stuck in school and did not have access to a computer, I wanted to challenge myself during classes. The most interesting distraction by far was to play around with the programming functions of my TI-82 calculator that was required for math classes. Even with al…

I don't get why people continue to recommend TI-83s. I showed up to Algebra II with an 85, but 83s were weirdly prevalent until calculus "strongly recommended" TI-89s. In this context, the 83 is an awful, awful choice, because TI-83 programs only allow for variable names to be one character long. I was lucky, when someone asked me to copy my TI-85 blackjack program into their TI-83, that I had used less than 28 varia…

Hint: if you use more than 28 variables, you can still put some in matrices. (Naming is still awful, though).

Re: Ask HN: Learning to code, without a computer?

#169

Post by inimino »

db48x wrote: post #161
inimino wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

SICP is perfect for studying without a computer. I've done it that way and it was a great experience. However, while it is presented as an introductory textbook, it moves fast . It depends on the learner.

Hmm. The pages move only as fast as you turn them :) It's probably safe say that it's more concise than others that I have read. A sentence in SICP could become a paragraph in a lesser book.

Right. In a classroom with lots of bright students and lectures and Q&A it works great. With access to supplemental online resources also great. With none of that I think it would depend on the student and their patience, aptitude, and background.

Re: Ask HN: Learning to code, without a computer?

#170

Post by taneq »

sAuronas wrote: post #147

Be like Malcolm X and read every programming book he can get. Send him PDF copies. I'm self-taught. I obviously had a computer but I spent a ton of time just reading and studying other people's code. There was a time as a kid when I wanted to play the Sax but my mom made me wait a year. I bought a book and learned the fingerings and played by air for a whole year and took first chair the next. If he is really motivat…

> Send him PDF copies.

Unlikely to be useful if he's not allowed to possess a programmable device.

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