Date   : Sun, 02 Apr 2006 15:46:58 +0100
From   : Andy Armstrong <andy@...>
Subject: Re: Basic & BBC Basic

On 2 Apr 2006, at 11:15, David Hunt wrote:
[snip]
> I would agree, programming
> is essential for those activities, but as for the language, a  
> simple one to
> start with, BBC Basic seems like a sane choice, gives students a  
> quick taste
> of programming. If programming was deemed as really important, I would
> encourage the use of C++ (C++ Builder/VS.NET 2005) or Pascal (Delphi),
> although poor teaching can really screw up a budding C++ developer!

BBC Basic, C++ and Pascal are all poor choices. We're (the industry)  
still living with the hangover of CS students being taught Pascal; C+ 
+ is a dumb language to teach beginners - too pointy and brittle and  
BBC Basic isn't particularly relevant to anything - it's essentially  
an historical curiosity at this point.

> BTW: My Father still pines after the BBC Micro and its fantastic I/ 
> O, ease
> of programming, reliability and size.

Yup - it's still a classic.

-- 
Andy Armstrong, hexten.net