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Should Windows come bundled with a programming language?

Started by davidx9 Aug 2, 2004 at 3:47 PM 42 replies 4.8k views

Original Post

Aug 2, 2004 at 3:47 PM

I was fortunate to grow up when computers came with programming languages (usually a BASIC variation), and that helped spawn my interest today. Should modern day PC's come with some form of language to allow the less experienced to grasp the basics of programming before attempting to jump in at the deep end with OO languages? I know people that are trying to write software, whilst barely grasping the concept of a "for" loop. I know theres lots of good books and tutorials out there, but its not easy for a complete novice to start programming. Perhaps there are such schemes in existance that I am unaware of? Bring back QBASIC! Everyones got to start somewhere...

Drakkcon

179

Drakkcon

Aug 2, 2004 at 3:49 PM

I believe QBASIC is on the windows CD. It's in the 'old MSdos' section. At least on the 95, 98, and ME CDs.

Lode

279

Lode

Aug 2, 2004 at 3:50 PM

There are tons of free compilers and IDE's for windows to download, and, if MS would bundle a programming language with windows, they'd get sued for it for the same reason why they can't bundle almost any program to windows and why they were sued for IE and WMP.

Acoustica

Aug 2, 2004 at 3:54 PM

Apple's OS X comes with a complete IDE DVD called Xcode Tools and it's a great full-fledged IDE. I don't program but I have it installed so as to check out all the cool stuff. :) Windows would be wise to follow this example, maybe providing a *lite* version of VS.net

davidx9

Author

davidx9

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:05 PM

Quote:
Original post by Lode
There are tons of free compilers and IDE's for windows to download.

There are many free compilers and IDEs available, but how many people on these forums started out by sitting in their bedrooms experimenting with

10 PRINT "HELLO"
20 GOTO 10

on a language that was "free" with their machine?

Now people are introduced to programming with (but not exclusively)

public class JavaProg
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
System.out.println("Hello");
System.exit(0);
}
}

I just feel that newbies can be a bit overwhelmed.

zer0wolf

298

zer0wolf

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:10 PM

I started programming on a VAX system my Freshman year of high school at school. Soon afterwards was followed by Qbasic on my comp at home.

Not everybody starts with Java... most colleges starts with Java.

CoffeeMug

147

CoffeeMug

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:14 PM

Quote:
Original post by davidx9
10 PRINT "HELLO"
20 GOTO 10

Ahhh, the sweet memories...

smart_idiot

184

smart_idiot

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:17 PM

Every modern OS besides Windows comes with a compiler. I could see them getting in trouble for it, but it's kind of funny to think that everyone else can, but Microsoft can't because they're so big it might alter the balance between good an evil (or something like that).

C-Junkie

139

C-Junkie

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:20 PM

I believe my first was something like

10 PRINT "HAHA YOU CAN'T STOP ME"
20 GOTO 10

On an Apple ][

to my dismay, I was then shown CTRL+C. :)

Cibressus

120

Cibressus

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:30 PM

they should not only come with a 'link.exe' or some kidn of minimalist compiler/ide but they should also come with a beginners guide to.

no, wait i take that back, that would make more people know how to program, and i need a job in 10 years.

so. NO KEEP THE POPULOUS STUPID!

nick316

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:31 PM

It should come bundled with variables.

Drewish

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:35 PM

Quote:
Original post by Cibressus
they should not only come with a 'link.exe' or some kidn of minimalist compiler/ide but they should also come with a beginners guide to.

no, wait i take that back, that would make more people know how to program, and i need a job in 10 years.

so. NO KEEP THE POPULOUS STUPID!

I wouldn't worry. Most young people have enough trouble distinguishing a web browser from an internet service provider, much less programming a Hello World program.

Lode

279

Lode

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:50 PM

Quote:
Original post by davidx9
10 PRINT "HELLO"
20 GOTO 10

You're right, we miss something like that these days.

QBASIC is what I started with, it was so fun! :)

Extrarius

234

Extrarius

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:55 PM

MS already gives away their good compiler(VS.Net 2003 Optimizing Compiler), you just need to have an ISP to download it. As stated above, having a C/C++ compiler and the kind of C++ samples MS gives out isn't quite the same as having QBASIC and gorillas or nibbles etc. Somebody should make a full QBASIC(the version that compiled to exes) emulator, with options to slow it down to old-school speed and the like (I still remeber nibbles crashing on my 486 because it used a simple "get time; loop lots; get time" to find the cpu speed and of course the loop finished before the time changed =-)

DigitalDelusion

Aug 2, 2004 at 4:57 PM

am I the only one who started with "debug" now that's a classy development enviorment and it still ships with the standard windows installations ;)

alnite

410

alnite

Aug 2, 2004 at 5:03 PM

Quote:
Original post by Extrarius
...gorillas...

Ooh ooh!

blueEbola

104

blueEbola

Aug 2, 2004 at 5:07 PM

Quote:
Original post by DigitalDelusion
am I the only one who started with "debug" now that's a classy development enviorment and it still ships with the standard windows installations ;)

Haha, I used debug exclusively when learning to program in assembly. But the very first language I ever programmed in was QBASIC.

Well when you think about it, some versions of Windows do ship with languages you can use. Think VBS and JS. Or alternatively, batch files. But the problem with these languages is that they are severely restricted in what they can do and they don't exactly compile into executables. It would be pretty cool if Windows shipped with a real compileable language.

Etnu

108

Etnu

Aug 2, 2004 at 5:14 PM

No, because the average person might make the mistake of trying to program. Hell on earth, my friends. Hell on earth.

Eelco

237

Eelco

Aug 2, 2004 at 5:22 PM

yeah i also always missed the QBASIC on newer windows CD's. if it wasnt for QBASIC id probably never have gotten into programming. its a great language to figure out on your own, which was a good thing TM, since when i thaught myself to program i didnt have teh intarnet.. OMG must have been a long time... :P

Lode

279

Lode

Aug 2, 2004 at 5:24 PM

Quote:
Original post by alnite
Quote:
Original post by Extrarius
...gorillas...

Ooh ooh!

OOOOOOOOOH! The memories!

The very first thing I did with QBASIC was modifying the shape of the banana and the gorillas (by playing with the parameters of the CIRCLE and LINE commands without knowing what they did, and the results were so funny! me and my brother laughed our asses off)

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