I want to find some software like the old MS-DOS Turbo Pascal editor/complier I had that can run under Windows and I can use it to demonstrate some basic programming to my kids - defining variables, arrays, and developing algorithms for sorting or whatever. I've seen Visual Basic for a few hundred dollars, but wondered if any of you know of some public domain or shareware or cheaper alternative - I'm not trying to write a software suite - just trying to show my kids what people mean when they talk about "writing a program."
I heard there is a simple way to get into a programming mode using "macros" but I've never used them and have no idea where to find out more information.
Kind of ironic that I'm clueless about computers now - when I was in college I wrote and distributed a Shareware program and even knew how to create assembly code for the parts where speed was crucial. I couldn't begin to do that now...
OT - OK, way OT - computer programming
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- AJMD429
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OT - OK, way OT - computer programming
Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
Re: OT - OK, way OT - computer programming
AJMD,
Microsoft has released free somewhat limited versions of visual studio. Seems to be at http://www.microsoft.com/Express/
This should let you work with VISUAL Basic .NET or C#. From your comments I think VB.NET would probably be a better place to start.
Good luck.
Microsoft has released free somewhat limited versions of visual studio. Seems to be at http://www.microsoft.com/Express/
This should let you work with VISUAL Basic .NET or C#. From your comments I think VB.NET would probably be a better place to start.
Good luck.
- AJMD429
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 32290
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:03 am
- Location: Hoosierland
- Contact:
Re: OT - OK, way OT - computer programming
Thanks - I'll check it out.
I just remember that in addition to enabling to do something with my computer that was not possible with the then-available software, learning to program helped me think differently in terms of organizing thoughts, developing procedures from the ground up, and so forth.
I just remember that in addition to enabling to do something with my computer that was not possible with the then-available software, learning to program helped me think differently in terms of organizing thoughts, developing procedures from the ground up, and so forth.
Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
Re: OT - OK, way OT - computer programming
Doc,
There's also a radio program on that is live on Saturdays by a lady named Kim Komando. If you go to her website at komando.com she has all kinds of free software listed. You might want to give here a call on the radio as well.
There's also a radio program on that is live on Saturdays by a lady named Kim Komando. If you go to her website at komando.com she has all kinds of free software listed. You might want to give here a call on the radio as well.
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tough-
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
Re: OT - OK, way OT - computer programming
You could also start with macros in Excel.
"From birth 'til death...we travel between the eternities." -- Print Ritter in Broken Trail
Re: OT - OK, way OT - computer programming
I recommend Python. It's free. As in air. It is very well supported. And it has lots of available modules to explore and experiment with.
It's not Basic, has its own syntax, but comes highly recommended to me by an expert. It runs on linux and/windows and probably more.
Grizz
It's not Basic, has its own syntax, but comes highly recommended to me by an expert. It runs on linux and/windows and probably more.
Grizz