RE: [MLUG] good intro to programming for a teenager?

["Pottinger, Hardy J." <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

I haven't done a whole lot with it yet, but I would say you should look
at Python. He's starting with essentially a clean slate, so the one
weird thing about Python (white space has meaning) wouldn't matter to
him at all. And it's easy to do really meaningful programming with very
little code. He'll learn real OO concepts, and there are lots of Python
books. Python is also multi-platform, so he can get cracking now with
Windows, and still apply that experience in Linux down the road.

Since we're talking Windows Python here, I'd recommend getting the
ActivePython distro, from ActiveState:
http://www.activestate.com/Products/ActivePython/

What to program? Whatever he's interested in. My first program was a
virtual birthday cake for my dad (on a TRS 80, no less... ah, those were
the days). Here's a good place to get some ideas:
http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Python/Cookbook/ OReilly has some
books, can't vouch for any of them.

You are both going to have a great time.

--Hardy

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