"Get off my darn lawn!" On 6 October 2010 14:06, RogerV <[email protected]> wrote:
> The problem is that the current options for scripting a PC don't make > available a very interesting environment to play and experiment with. > > The Commodore 64, with its ROM BASIC, sprite color graphics, its > rather comprehensive manual, and a 3rd party book on the 6502 CPU > assembly language made for a explosively empowering environment to > learn computing at down fairly close to the metal. > > Before even getting exposed to CS curriculum it can do a world of good > to learn how to master a machine like the Commodore 64, Apple II, or > TRS 80, which were at varying levels of afford-ability. > > Then there was the original Mac OS with its Motorola 68000, extensive > ROM tool box routines, Quickdraw graphics, and trap dispatch table > that was so easy to install all manner of cool hooks into the system > (these days protected memory kernels take all the fun away). Couple > the Mac with LightSpeed C and the good times were just endless. > > It was those early generation computers that launched the computing > love affair for so many. Now days kids have game machines and turn-key > PCs. Nothing is really hackable in the (creative) way that the first > gen hardware was. > > Who can blame kids today with being bored with the CS proposition - > there's nothing truly exciting to bootstrap them along into acquiring > a passion for computing. Coding a browser DOM in JavaScript is > horribly lame relative to hacking a Commodore 64 in 6502 assembly. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "The Java Posse" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<javaposse%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en. > > -- "Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee." Josh 'G-Funk' McDonald - [email protected] - http://twitter.com/sophistifunk - http://flex.joshmcdonald.info/ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
