[daveguy]

I started programming in the 80s with BASIC as an 8 year old. So yes, it was very possible in the 80s for kids younger than 10 to learn to program. AdBlock is in reference to the quote from the early 70's from Alan Kay as a suggestion of one of the first "simple programs" a computer user might want to program. This was in the 70s long before ARPA net was called the internet and he had the foresight to identify ads as a nemesis to an enjoyable user experience.

[agumonkey]

Maybe people think that an 'app' has some intrinsic value whereas a basic demo is just spaghetti.

ps: any source for Alan Kay ads quote ?

[daveguy]

I take it you aren't a programmer.

1) most everyone learns to code with a short demo.

2) short demos for learning to program and understanding concepts are essentially spaghetti free -- the problem is you can't even do the simplest "hello world" in walled app gardens that require elaborate toolkits and permissions.

3) source from the fine article: originally published in Proceedings of the ACM National Conference, Boston (August 1972)

[agumonkey]

> I take it you aren't a programmer.

that burn

If I say I won the putnam does it make a difference ?

ps: thanks for the ACM ref.

[daveguy]

Then maybe you're a programmer that was so gifted you didn't have to learn like the rest of us (with hello world and simple number guessing games). If so, I completely understand why you would have the impression that simple demo code isn't necessary and everyone should just jump right into codin' apps. Sorry for the burn. You should be aware that basic demo code has quite a bit of intrinsic value especially when the users are free to try it out on their own.

[agumonkey]

I think there's a mistake somewhere. I meant to say that in the public eye, old days demos are toys because it was a niche thing compared to today's ubiquitous web and apps that people can relate to and value.

And I was mostly kidding about the burn thing, I just didn't expect it.