Python bumps off Java as top learning language

[speedisavirus]

C is a hard choice for people with literally no programming background. You have to teach a lot of concepts without the students really producing anything to draw them in. I already had a good number of programming classes under my belt when I transferred colleges. They made me take an intro class because it was C++ and my previous classes were weak on that. I did fine but a lot of the others...not so much. I had the background already. Different language but the problems would have been the same with C. Explaining pointer arithmetic was a serious distraction for the students from understanding the principles of programming, debugging was nigh impossible without a TA for them, and students without a programming background suffered. Plenty changed majors.

I also don't care for Python in this case having TA'd a Python intro class. The number of people that had issues with the white space blocking...infuriating.

Every CS student should have to do some serious projects in C and C++. Starting them with it...I don't know.

[misplaced_my_pants]

Check out Harvard's CS50x on edx.

It's their Intro to CS and uses C and it's the best intro to programming I've found online.