[visarga]

A beginner might have trouble assimilating this information - too few examples, not enough entry level drilling on data types, operators, flow control and functions. For example they might forget to put quotes around a string or not know how to use two for loops, one inside the other, even if they know how to use one in isolation. It's hard to grok how to compose things even if the student saw how to use them in isolation. And for the teacher, it's hard to keep the lessons easy enough at that entry level.

[niklasd]

When I started programming (with Python) I remember how the modulo operator was introduced, without any further information. I found it quite confusing, since I didn't know what modulo meant (that could be solved with googling) but more important, how it was useful. When you come from a CS perspective, it's completly clear on how you can use it and why it is essential for some computing tasks, but for a non-CS beginner that can be much more obscure.

[kovek]

Interesting perspective! And it seems connecting the dots is part of the role of an educator!

[kovek]

Quotes to indicate strings have been a problem, definitely. It's odd because it's so clear for me. Yes, I was lucky to dabble in all this a lot when I was younger.

[Izkata]

> not enough entry level drilling on data types [..] they might forget to put quotes around a string

Just want to emphasize that first part; I've seen the second in new hires who passed a coding bootcamp, and it's really weird to watch. One of them even had to see the error message and go back to the code and still puzzle over it for several seconds before realizing what was wrong.

[realharo]

>For example they might forget to put quotes around a string

I wonder whether a "richer" editor/IDE, that flags such things immediately upon writing them, could greatly improve the learning experience.

Many tools even point out things such as non-existing variables in scope, which are not strictly "errors" in a dynamic language during edit time.

[celicaraptor]

I would assume so. Using Intellij Idea helped me a lot, rather than using Netbeans that our professor insisted on.Netbeans has a really slow autocomplete and would slow me down a lot, however Intelllij's autocomplete would pop immediately and would learn from my usage.