As a kid, I got started on computers early. My first computer was a Texas Instruments model 99/4A. I originally used it primarily as a gaming console, but we also had two books full of BASIC program listings to type in. My pre-school had the same computer and even had the TI Logo environment. At other times in my childhood I got to play with other BASIC and Logo environments, mostly on Apple II-series computers. There was plenty of story-telling and other software over the years that blurred the line between gaming and programming. I can’t remember any of them besides Mario Paint and Story Machine.
I would love to get my daughter started on computers early, but I obviously can’t start with stuff like C++ before she can even really read or type. Most of the kid-type stuff that I grew up with is long gone. Modern Logo environments do exist, though. and there are other child-friendly languages and tools, to boot. So, here’s a list of the ones I’ve found. They’re free unless marked otherwise:
- Logo
- FMS Logo (Windows)
- MSW Logo (Windows)
- ACS Logo (Mac OS X)
- AgentSheets (Windows, Mac OS X, $)
- Squeak/Smalltalk
- Squeak Etoys (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux)
- Scratch (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux)
- Alice (Windows, Mac OS X)
- ToonTalk (Windows)
- StageCast Creator (Windows, Mac OS X, any UNIX that can run Java, $)
- Toca Boca Games (iOS, $)
- GameMaker (Mac/Win/HTML5, $ and free versions)
- Gamestar Mechanic (web-based, free)
- Kodu (Windows, XBL, free)
- Edubuntu Packages (Linux, free)
- AlphaBaby