Hello HN, I've linked a tutorial from Pickcode, where students are guided through making a chatbot that plays mad libs. Pickcode is designed for introducing programming without block coding, in a way that's closer to Javascript or Python. I made Pickcode based on my frustrations teaching beginners in both block coding and in Python.
The link here is to just one lesson, and I have a few more that you can find on the site. I'd love feedback from HNers with kids age 10-13 or so, or HNers who can put on an intro to programming hat.
On the roadmap is adding more complex use cases for your programs (like drag and drop web apps), and obviously many more lessons.
If you're a teacher and interested in using this with students, email me at charlie@pickcode.io
My nephew is 8 years old. I have been on the hunt for a platform that is suitable for him to create a space invaders style game (he has a huge notebook crammed with video game ideas). So tools like pickcode, sprig, scratch and so on are of particular interest.
I think the most important thing is for him to be successful early on... and I have yet to find anything in a similar vein that that is really, really simple.
Pickcode will be great once he knows some basics, but he's not old enough yet to run with it, as noted in the article.
Any recommendations are gratefully received for a pickcode alike for a younger audience, with graphics focused/game building options. (And whilst I ask for the moon on a stick, the icing on the cake would be support remote collaboration)
Charlie: FYI, the sign up form picks up a dormant Google account for me, and provides no mechanism to change it. Very odd.