A brief history lesson. Javascript existed before java. It's actually
not called javascript, but ECMA. The only reason they started calling
it "javascript" is because java got so popular and they wanted to ride
on it's coat tails. Java was originally meant to be for client side
apps(like flash), but if failed pretty miserably. Java_script_ ( ;) )
turned out to be far more successful on the client side. You can rest
easy at night knowing that liking javascript has nothing to do with
liking java. They are actually two extremely different languages.
BTW, my son's names is Devyn. Not very common name.
Devyn Cairns wrote:
Honestly, the first programming language I taught myself was Visual
Basic. I was comfortable with it for about 2-3 years. Then I
discovered Ruby. I didn't like it at first, because it was too
different. But then six months later, I rediscovered it, tried to
learn the basics, and discovered why it is so great. Ruby is great,
because it works in the way we think. Our mind easily wraps around it,
at least, I find. So that's why.
I like JavaScript too, but not as much. The nice thing about
JavaScript is that the DOM provides so little (only the bare minimum),
that, we can do anything with it. But honestly, I have not ever been a
big fan of Java, and the syntax for JavaScript is similar. (Although
the API is very different)
Just my 2�.
On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 12:39 PM, Seth Thomas Rasmussen
<[email protected]> wrote:
On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 10:06 AM, Seth Thomas Rasmussen
<[email protected]> wrote:
On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 3:45 AM, Kyle King <[email protected]> wrote:
Shoes has always, to me anyway, pioneered the idea that anyone should be
able to write a simple gui. That programming little apps should be fun and
easy. But Shoes isn't just a toy to teach children. Although it is best
suited for teaching, it also has the very real potential to be a practical,
everyday utility in a ruby programmer's toolbox. I can honestly say that
I've used Shoes at work to write little one-time guis for people that aren't
comfortable with the command line.
I find this passage, and much recent discussion on this mailing list
quite curious. Why is Shoes best for educational purposes? It seems,
in fact, that some of the ambiguity and quirks of the Ruby language
make that task quite a chore in certain moments.
That said, I'd love to see it used increasingly in school settings,
and I think Ruby is probably less painful than a great many other
languages. Perhaps this is what it all boils down to.
Anyway, no big deal or argument here, just an observation. Personally,
I'm more interested in the "easy GUI" part, though their is a lurking
educator in me. Sadly, I don't think I've yet got the maturity of
patience to seriously consider teaching.
Hey, educators and the like.. it's not very clear from my blurting
this all out, I suppose, but I'd like to know what you think!
I'm curious how people view the use of Ruby and Shoes as a teaching
tool in their experiences so far. Obviously, some of you are into the
idea and have shared some feedback. What specifically interests you?
How do you see Ruby as a good fit? Etc.
--
Seth Thomas Rasmussen
http://greatseth.com
