Timeline for Programming language for teenagers
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
16 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Nov 7, 2019 at 16:45 | comment | added | Elkady | Finally in modern programming, even if we want to use pointers we should use "smart pointers" not the old c style pointers. Smart pointers ensure there we don't get memory leaks | |
| Nov 7, 2019 at 16:42 | comment | added | Elkady | Void myfunc (int param). //pass by value. Or. Void myfunc (int ¶m) // pass by reference. In bother cases the function is called using an int variable. The the parameter param is used inside the function as an int not a pointer | |
| Nov 7, 2019 at 16:39 | comment | added | Elkady | Example: I can write my function as : | |
| Nov 7, 2019 at 16:39 | comment | added | Elkady | I understand, But this is no more in modern C++. We use references instead. The beauty of it is that you don't have to change the function call if you switched your function from pass-by-value to pass-by-reference. And there is no more "loosing your address". | |
| Nov 6, 2019 at 14:38 | comment | added | Gorchestopher H | @Elkady To clarify myself, at the entry level I'm not opposed to teaching C++ or old-school C to essentially the same effect. Pointers are very handy for teaching the concept of "reference vs value". Even if they're not used, or not recommended to be used, it's a great teaching tool. | |
| Sep 17, 2019 at 2:05 | comment | added | Elkady | to clarify: when I say "normal circumstances" I refer to a problem that you can code without pointers whichever other high-level language you choose yet you would use pointers in C++. this no longer exist. | |
| Sep 17, 2019 at 1:56 | comment | added | Elkady | @Gorchestopher H I will say again then that you should check out modern C++. I did not say pointers were removed, I said they are no longer used. C++ is a general language and thus it keeps all the options including C-like syntax but it provides modern ways for programming. For example, you under normal circumstances, how would you justify using C-stings instead of modern string class? or still building & using using linked-lists instead of a vector (which by the way if far more efficient) ...etc. Modern C++ code look a good deal like Javascript or even Java code. No pointers whatsoever. | |
| Aug 27, 2019 at 18:37 | comment | added | Gorchestopher H | @Elkady I'm not sure if you're making a joke. Pointers have not been removed from "modern C++". No one thinks C++ is object oriented. In a beginners course, there should be negligible differences between C and C++. | |
| Aug 27, 2019 at 6:19 | comment | added | Elkady | Forgive me, but you should check out modern C++ it has proved over and over again to be the best first language and unlike many misunderstandings it is not an object-oriented language only to explain why let's say that modern cplusplus does not use pointers anymore which is the greatest complaints about teaching C for beginners yet it keeps the understanding of how the machine works there are many papers published about the advantage of using C plus plus as a first language | |
| Feb 23, 2018 at 0:13 | comment | added | Gypsy Spellweaver | I think maybe it's time for me to learn C. Even if I don't move from there to C++. Good answer and good resources. | |
| Jan 30, 2018 at 12:40 | history | edited | Gorchestopher H | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
more clarity
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| Jan 23, 2018 at 2:26 | comment | added | Gorchestopher H | @diaa Of course C usually requires higher overhead to produce something interesting, but this is a beginners programming course for teens. The concept of arrays and pointers are complicated for teens. C is a great teaching tool for learning programming. It's the same as when teaching basic math, the concept of "showing your work" rather than jumping straight to an answer. C is showing your work, Python is jumping to the answer. | |
| Jan 22, 2018 at 23:19 | comment | added | diaa | But don't you agree that C usually requires higher overhead from the programmer to produce something interesting compared the Python? I think teens like to see the fruit of the efforts quickly. Even as an adult who used C for years, I wouldn't consider solving a problem in C over python unless the performance was an issue. | |
| Jan 22, 2018 at 22:34 | comment | added | cse | And then you can show them all the footguns, giving them an appreciation for memory-safe languages!! | |
| Jan 22, 2018 at 22:31 | review | First posts | |||
| Jan 23, 2018 at 3:39 | |||||
| Jan 22, 2018 at 22:28 | history | answered | Gorchestopher H | CC BY-SA 3.0 |