Hi,

What is the best way to learn programming? To start learn how to programme in Processing or just jump into the deep water and learn Java? I've heard that learning Processing will teach me bad habits in programming. Is it true?

PS. I have very little knowledge about programming. I know basic things like arrays, variables, statements and so on but how to put all this things together is kind of black magic for me now.

antiplastik wrote on May 2^nd, 2010, 11:47pm:

Quite a bold statement!
A good Python programmer might do some errors when starting with Processing, but at least he will have a good base for OOP and general good programming practices...  

Quote:

No.
You can horrible code in Processing, sometime we see that in this forum... But we (experienced programmers) are here to point out such problems and try and teach how to fix these problems. So don't be afraid to dive in, we will maintain you afloat...  

Perhaps the rumor comes from the fact that Processing transforms an object oriented language (Java) to a procedural one (you can write code without classes, using only some functions).
I come from the procedural world (having coded a lot in C) so I don't see that as a bad practice...
At least for small to medium complexity sketches.
Now, when you start to have several arrays of global data of same length to keep data of several entities, it is probably time to look into classes and some other OOP concepts.

The nice thing with Processing is that it doesn't force you to OOP paradigm, and it allows you to progressively add it if you want/need it.

Along the lines of the initial question, I was wondering if anyone had used Processing for teaching Computer Science in a High School environment..  

I've just spent a year with Java, and there are frustrated students and teacher..  Java is much to challenging for someone who has no programming experience.  Processing looks like the in-between tool I need, to bridge to Java.

Has anyone developed a curriculum or is this new ground?

I have been persuaded to jump in.  Thanks!

I teach Programming I and II at a small college. I have taught Java, Scheme and Ruby over the years and this last 2 quarters I used Processing. It worked out great. The nice thing is that students can do something visual and get immediate feedback. I had them doing some complex 3D manipulations the other day. They get to be successful without some of the overhead that some languages impose. I had a mix of IT students and Computer Engineering students. The engineering students progressed very fast and did some cool things. They will be served well as they are expected to know C and using Processing in a non-OO way gives them a leg up in learning that.

As long as you teach "first principles" with regards to programming, it really should not matter which language you are teaching. But the simple nature of Processing and the immediate feedback helps with student success.

I will be using Processing next year again.

The thread Does anyone have a code for PacMan Level Editor is a good example of what you point out. TfGuy44 used to jump on these opportunities to code, but now is just giving hints. In general, people detect these assignment questions and ask for preliminary code before starting to help.

Processing Educators may be interested in joining this Google group:
http://groups.google.com/group/processing-educators?hl=en&pli=1
(It could use some reenergizing.)

Also, maybe it's time for a P3 Conference (Programming + Pedagogy + Processing)?

I'm playing around with both Processing and Java and find Processing a bit more intuitive. Good stuff overall.