What is a good programming software to begin learning with for a genius brain 13 year old kid?
A kid has been asking me of a software he can learn on how to program computers. He’s extremely smart and I can see him doing some state-of-the-art computer work, if channeled in the right direction. Any ideas what to start him with or what kind of literature or software to launch him on?
He is interested in the robotics field.
Thanks a million!
kuapp.com/
4 Responses to “What is a good programming software to begin learning with for a genius brain 13 year old kid?”
Comment from Dingo
Time July 26, 2008 at 12:30 am
This is a rather tough question.
I know from experience that robots can be programmed in a variety of different programming languages.
I would suggest either Visual Basic or C++ for his first language if he is going the robotics route. Java and HTML are both good starter languages, but I have never seen them used in said field.
You can download Visual Studio straight from Microsoft for Visual Basic and C++.
I am not sure about good literature for Visual Basic, as I took it in a Computer Science course. But as for C++, I would recommend “Ivor Horton’s Beginner’s Guide for C++”.
The beauty of programming, is that most follow the same format. Starting so young, if he learns one or two programming languages, the rest come very easily.
This is all in my personal opinion and is based on the experience that I have.
Hope this helps.
Dingo
Comment from Mike W
Time July 28, 2008 at 4:29 pm
C++ is a nice language to start with. It was the first language I learned and it is not too hard.
For software, I recommend Dev-C++, made by bloodshed.net. It is not the most full-featured compiler out there, but it is intuitive and simple to use.
As far as literature, I recommend Programming and Problem Solving With C++ by Nell Dale and Chip Weems.
Comment from Fudge
Time July 30, 2008 at 6:38 am
Python language :
Download :
Tutorials:
Python is easy, kool, and the best thing is that u can gain good programming habits and concepts with this language far more quickly than with most other languages .
Or:
There’s a section for beginners .
Comment from colanth
Time July 24, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Just a web browser (and maybe a word processor and printer, to print it out). Go to It’s a pdf of Wirth’s “Algorithms” – the basics of programming. After he learns that he has feet, you can start teaching him to crawl. But without the basics he’s not going to be programming, he’s going to be playing.