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Idea #8193: Encourage programming with an Easy Scripting IDE

Written by jhoger the 7 May 08 at 16:37. Category: Programming. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale

(Note: I'M NOT recommending BASIC here, read further...)

Way back when all home computers powered on instantly to an OK prompt where you could type in BASIC programs. This encouraged a lot of hobbyists to experiment and become programmers.

These days, all computers can still be programmed by the user but either you have to download a giant, intimidating dev environment, or you have to dig around to find the scripting language for your system and dig much further to find docs.

Since Ubuntu is based on programming by its users, I think it should encourage programming by installing, distributing, promoting a friendly scripting IDE. Probably Python since it has fairly simple syntax.

Pippy could be back-ported to Ubuntu:

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Pippy

It should come with a friendly tutorial utilizing lots of cartoons (like the old Getting Started With Color BASIC for the TRS-80 CoCo).

Also, like the OLPC XO-1, you should be able to easily get to the source of any script based programs on your system. If it's written in Python, be able to right-click it and pop it up in the friendly IDE.
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #8193
Written by jhoger the 7 May 08 at 16:37.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #8193 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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jhoger wrote on the 7 May 08 at 17:59
Is this controversial? Comments, please, folks?

Personally, I think this would be a great way to nudge users into the mindset of open source. It will make the value proposition more clear. An open OS and apps aren't just a canned product. It is a maleable thing that the user can reshape and augment to solve their own problems.

glotz wrote on the 7 May 08 at 19:55
Incredible people aren't all for this! "Give hungry man a fish and he's content for a day, give him a fishing rod and he's happy all his life."

Auzy wrote on the 8 May 08 at 01:56
You can use Eclipse, which is easy and powerful.

What I'm really like to see is a systemtap plugin for eclipse

cybertoast wrote on the 10 May 08 at 19:37
I completely agree with this request, but i'd like it to be expanded to all applications and their source (i've got an idea submission for this).
It really can't be a hard thing to do, but there seems to be a lot of resistance/controversy about this issue (at least based on the demotions to my idea).
I think it's unfair to say "use eclipse" since a newbie would not even know about eclipse. There has to be an even simpler/easier way to get at editing and compiling/building the source.


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