Learn programming using the Commodore 16/Plus 4 system. Following this book, you and your children will not only learn BASIC programming, but also have fun emulating a retro Commodore system. There are many ways to bring the fun of learning to program in the 1980s back to life. For example, downloading the VICE emulator to a Raspberry Pi allows for the classic “turn on and program” experience and also provides some retro computing project fun. Many parents learned programming in this same way and can have fun helping their children follow the same path.
You can also use this book as an opportunity to dust off your computing skills or learn programming concepts for the first time on a system that’s easy, approachable, and fun with a nostalgic twist.
Commodore computers were the most sold computing devices before the iPhone. Nowadays, the Commodore system can be run using freely available emulation on modern computers. This book uses VICE, which is available for PC, Mac, Linux, as an online app, and on the Raspberry Pi. Beginning Programming Using Retro Computing offers simple programming concepts to give children and adults alike a sense of wonder in seeing that words they write have the power to do things, like play sounds, draw graphics, or finish math homework.
True story. I was looking for a system that would help 7-year olds teach themselves programming. Hey it's 2018, right? After looking through what's available, the two major issues that I have with the current tools are: 1) Many of them require the Internet (too dangerous for self learning) 2) most, if not all, of them are drag and drop. I wanted a non-distracting environment where the kids practice reading and writing while learning to program. The sensation of causing an action simply by typing a word is priceless. Long story short: I ended up installing a Commodore emulator onto a Raspberry Pi and wrote a tutorial readable by my daughter. One year later, the unthinkable happened: The whole thing is available as a commercial book. Yes, a book teaching you how to program in a language from the 1980s is coming out in 2018. So if you are looking for a Christmas present to bond with your elementary school kid and revive your memories of the 1980s at the same time, I have an idea for you...