The best programming language for kids and beginners

[thanos]

Hello.
I am planning to writing a book, in my local language (Greek), to help kids and starters of any age to learn computer programming.
And as you suppose i want to choose the perfect programming language for this purpose.
The ideal language it has to have, at least, the following features:

1. Easy to learn syntax, like Basic language.
2. Create both GUI and Text interfaces.
3. Visual designer for GUI's.
3. Interact with all standard windows controls.
4. Programs can be compiled into standalone executables.
5. Contain IDE and interpreter for the development.
6. Multiplatform (not required but desirable).
7. Well done helpfile and large community-based support forums.
8. Small size of produced executable.
8. The produced executable can be self-contained (no dll's, ocx's, runtimes, frameworks etc. required).
9. Still alive (not abandoned development)..
10. It is FREE (highly required).

My choices, for now, are:
1. Auto It. Covers all the above requirements except Multiplatform. On the other hand is easier to learn than my favorite Purebasic.
2. freeBASIC. Free, powerful, multiplatform, but with some problems with unicode characters which are required to my local language.
3. Purebasic. The best tool which covers all the above requirements except free .
4. thinBasic. Free, not Multiplatform, with the syntax of PowerBasic (which i do not like it very much).
5. D-Lib. Little "brother" of Purebasic. Free but not so powerful. Just for small gui apps in Windows.

Do you have any suggestion for another programming language which fit better to my needs?
Regards.

Thanos.

[Kaeru Gaman]

there is no "perfect programming language" for learners.
a lot of people even say that it's impossible to teach effective programming to someone who made his first steps in BASIC.
those would say, start with C++/Java/Ruby whatever.

If you want to stay on the Basic side, why not recommend the PB-Demo?
you could demonstrate a lot of issues with it, and those who see they like programming could buy the full version.

[Marco2007]

3. Purebasic. The best tool which covers all the above requirements

why not recommend the PB-Demo?

Nothing more to say

[thanos]

Thanks for the responses.

@Marco2007

3. Purebasic. The best tool which covers all the above requirements except free

Indeed! But to be honest it is addressed more to experienced programmers than the beginners and it is not free.

@Kaeru Gaman

why not recommend the PB-Demo?

Because it has limitations.
Maybe i should ask Fred for an academic license.
Regards.

Thanos

[thanos]

there is no "perfect programming language" for learners.
a lot of people even say that it's impossible to teach effective programming to someone who made his first steps in BASIC.
those would say, start with C++/Java/Ruby whatever.

If you want to stay on the Basic side, why not recommend the PB-Demo?
you could demonstrate a lot of issues with it, and those who see they like programming could buy the full version.

I want to stay at Basic easiness not indispensably in its syntax.
So if you know another easy to learn language i will be glad to hear about it.
Regards.

Thanos

[Trond]

Pascal.

[ts-soft]

So if you know another easy to learn language i will be glad to hear about it.
Regards.

Thanos

Logo

greetings
Thomas

[Marco2007]

PB-Demo:
- No Api -> No problem > most of the best Apis are included in Userlibs (e.g. Gnozal, Droopy, ...)
- About 800 Lines should be enough for beginners. If someone needs more....what should I say: Good stuff isn`t always for free.

e.g Look at Freak`s Tetris: http://freak.purearea.net/tools/Tetris.zip
700 lines with comments. I guess: About 400 without comments.

[thanos]

@Trond
Thanks for the post. Pascal is always a good choice for teaching .

@ts-soft
Thanks for the post but i need something more powerful than Logo.

Regards.

Thanos

[thanos]

PB-Demo:
- No Api -> No problem > most of the best Apis are included in Userlibs (e.g. Gnozal, Droopy, ...)

That's great.

- About 800 Lines should be enough for beginners.

You are right. 800 lines are more than enough for a beginner.

If someone needs more....what should I say: Good stuff isn`t always for free.

You just enter a philosophical dilemma
As i saw in your signature you are user of AutoIt3.
Who is your opinion about it? Is it suitable for kids and beginners? Compared with Purebasic?
Regards.

Thanos

[jack]

have not tried it myself but there's Basic which was created for kids, Basic-256 (formerly KidBASIC) http://kidbasic.sourceforge.net/

[Marco2007]

I use AutoitX3 only with PB
TS-Soft wrote a wrapper for it....

[thanos]

have not tried it myself but there's Basic which was created for kids, Basic-256 (formerly KidBASIC) http://kidbasic.sourceforge.net/

Thanks for the post.
I already tried and if i remember well it has so many limitations and it does not supports the unicode characters.
Regards.

Thanos

[Marco2007]

And don`t forget: The PB-Community is one of the best!!
That`s also very important for programming.

[thanos]

And don`t forget: The PB-Community is one of the best!!
That`s also very important for programming.

I totally agree!