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Learning to code as a 30-year-old kid with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds

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Re: Learning to code as a 30-year-old kid with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds

#21

Post by spraak »

Watabou wrote: post #19
spraak wrote: post #13

I am not (yet) familiar with this app, but I do like to suggest to any new (young or old) programmers to give Racket along with the book 'Realm of Racket' a try. It's a simple enough programming language to get a good foundation with important principles, but also can take you nearly as far as you want. Edit: For those who downvoted my comment here, I'd really be curious to know why.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think starting out with parenthesis based programming language is the best starting point for new programmers. You'll probably just scare them. I'm saying this with my huge love for Scheme. Of course, if you're already programming and want to learn/try something different, Haskell or Racket, or any other functional language is a great option. What makes Swift Playground so compelling is t…

Hm, again I haven't tried it - I don't have an iOS device that can run it - does it actually use Swift syntax? This is only anecdotal (anecdata) but both my friend and partner (both 27) are learning to program for the first time using Racket, who both barely know what a 'web browser' is and they're both finding it really easy to pick up, and even have started 'thinking in lists'. It also was my first programming language..

But anyways, I'm excited to give this app a try - I'm always glad to see more tools to help people get started.

Re: Learning to code as a 30-year-old kid with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds

#22

Post by Watabou »

spraak wrote: post #21
Watabou wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think starting out with parenthesis based programming language is the best starting point for new programmers. You'll probably just scare them. I'm saying this with my huge love for Scheme. Of course, if you're already programming and want to learn/try something different, Haskell or Racket, or any other functional language is a great option. What makes Swift Playground so compelling is t…

Hm, again I haven't tried it - I don't have an iOS device that can run it - does it actually use Swift syntax? This is only anecdotal (anecdata) but both my friend and partner (both 27) are learning to program for the first time using Racket, who both barely know what a 'web browser' is and they're both finding it really easy to pick up, and even have started 'thinking in lists'. It also was my first programming lang…

I wasn't really directing all of what I said to you, but just commenting about Playgrounds versus other resources in general.

And yes, it uses real Swift syntax which is its main goal, according to the "Platforms State of the Union"[1] talk at WWDC this year.

[1]: https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/102/

Re: Learning to code as a 30-year-old kid with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds

#23

Post by jsyedidia »

madcow2011 wrote: post #4

I've been looking for something similar to this for my 12-year old son. Are there any other resources you guys can recommend to help teach coding? (that aren't Apple-product dependent?)

When my son was around 12 years old we gave him the book "Hello World: Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners." It teaches programming with Python and targets making games and was perfect for him. Five years later now, he's really a great programmer, proficient with many languages and techniques. Here's his github site: https://github.com/zyedidia

Re: Learning to code as a 30-year-old kid with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds

#26

Post by zouhair »

ontouchstart wrote: post #25

I did a quick test on my iPad after I read this. I am posting my experience on twitter. https://twitter.com/ontouchstart/status/753709980239466497

Please no more vertical videos.[0]

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA

Re: Learning to code as a 30-year-old kid with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds

#27

Post by spraak »

Watabou wrote: post #22
spraak wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hm, again I haven't tried it - I don't have an iOS device that can run it - does it actually use Swift syntax? This is only anecdotal (anecdata) but both my friend and partner (both 27) are learning to program for the first time using Racket, who both barely know what a 'web browser' is and they're both finding it really easy to pick up, and even have started 'thinking in lists'. It also was my first programming lang…

I wasn't really directing all of what I said to you, but just commenting about Playgrounds versus other resources in general. And yes, it uses real Swift syntax which is its main goal, according to the "Platforms State of the Union"[1] talk at WWDC this year. [1]: https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/102/

Very cool, thanks for explaining :)

Re: Learning to code as a 30-year-old kid with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds

#28

Post by spraak »

Watabou wrote: post #22
spraak wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hm, again I haven't tried it - I don't have an iOS device that can run it - does it actually use Swift syntax? This is only anecdotal (anecdata) but both my friend and partner (both 27) are learning to program for the first time using Racket, who both barely know what a 'web browser' is and they're both finding it really easy to pick up, and even have started 'thinking in lists'. It also was my first programming lang…

I wasn't really directing all of what I said to you, but just commenting about Playgrounds versus other resources in general. And yes, it uses real Swift syntax which is its main goal, according to the "Platforms State of the Union"[1] talk at WWDC this year. [1]: https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/102/

Very cool, thanks for explaining :)

Re: Learning to code as a 30-year-old kid with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds

#29

Post by ontouchstart »

zouhair wrote: post #26
ontouchstart wrote: post #25

I did a quick test on my iPad after I read this. I am posting my experience on twitter. https://twitter.com/ontouchstart/status/753709980239466497

Please no more vertical videos.[0] [0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA

Yes, I learned that after the first video. :-)

(The second one is a trim from the same original.)

Re: Learning to code as a 30-year-old kid with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds

#30

Post by melling »

spraak wrote: post #13

I am not (yet) familiar with this app, but I do like to suggest to any new (young or old) programmers to give Racket along with the book 'Realm of Racket' a try. It's a simple enough programming language to get a good foundation with important principles, but also can take you nearly as far as you want. Edit: For those who downvoted my comment here, I'd really be curious to know why.

...or you could learn Swift and ship real apps. You'll have something to show your friends and family. You'll go much farther once you ship real software that does something that's interesting to you.
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