Re: [9fans] c++

[Bakul Shah <bakul@bitblocks.com>]

On Nov 22, 2012, at 8:06 AM, lucio@proxima.alt.za wrote:

>> Of course, it depends on the problem considered. But I think the big
>> problems in the world have little to do with programming languages,
>> particularly c++, which is the topic at hand.
>
> Well, in the unequal world of long-post-apartheid rural South Africa
> where I live, my hope is to teach unspoilt, but also uneducated kids
> programming using Go on a Plan 9 platform (the teaching, mostly).
> Doing the same in C++ or Java would demand much more effort on my part
> and much more powerful resources than I have at my disposal.
> Eventually, we may get over these obstacles, but by then I'm hoping
> the ability to solve problems using Go will already be an asset for
> the kids.

Linux + python seems to be succeeding in the raspberryPi world.
Then there are things like MIT Scratch which is even easier for kids.
In the end what matters is developing thinking/problem solving skills.
Simpler languages allow to focus on problem solving.

Also, many uneducated or less educated kids have problems with
more basic skills of math etc. Hopefully inexpensive tablets can be
used to develop proficiency in such subjects (very few good teachers
in the kind of places you mention). A friend is developing such
web/tablet based lessons for similar kids in India (India has as big a
problem of poor ed. as the whole of Africa).