Re: Replacing Delphi developers

From: Doug Kanter (ancientangler_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 12/03/03

  • Next message: Jud McCranie: "Re: Replacing Delphi developers" 
    Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 20:32:44 GMT

    "Bruce Roberts" <ber@bounceitattcanada.xnet> wrote in message
    news:8trzb.256$%i5.13783@news20.bellglobal.com...
    >
    > "Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in message
    > news:rd7zb.12$H27.9@news02.roc.ny...
    > > Sorry about the potentially incendiary subject line, but it was the best
    > > distillation of the question I could come up with. :-)
    > >
    > > My 14 yr old son is making noise about learning programming. I have an
    > > assortment of older resources (software, books) for stuff like Delphi 3
    > and
    > > Paradox for Windows, probably version 5. I thought of pointing him
    toward
    > > Delphi, but I'm wondering about something.
    > >
    > > Those of you who are developing professionally with Delphi....if you
    were
    > > hit by a car, how easy would it be for your clients to find another
    Delphi
    > > developer who might be able to pick up where you left off?
    >
    > Wrong question. The choice of first language is critical to the
    development
    > of a programmer. It is the foundation upon which their programming
    knowledge
    > will rest. What is important is not the language itself, but its ability
    to
    > let the student easily and without much pain explore various programming
    > concepts. It must also help the student develop good programming habits
    > because these habits will likely stay with them for the rest of their
    life.
    >
    > Any language, be it natural or constructed, imposes a cultural context on
    > its user. In the case of programming languages one of the things they tend
    > to do is push users towards certain types of solutions. For instance,
    those
    > who work in BASIC tend to ignore recursive solutions simply because the
    > language doesn't make them easy to implement.
    >
    > As others have said, the really important thing when learning to program
    is
    > not the language. What is important is how one approaches problem solving
    > and the types of algorithms one can use to achieve desired outcomes.
    >
    > A good programmer will be able to learn other programming languages so one
    > shouldn't choose a first language because it offers more employment
    > opportunity. I think this is especially so in the case of youth who are
    > learning because they are interested, not because they need a job.
    >
    > Delphi, like its ancestor Pascal, is IMO a very good first language. But
    > that is no real surprise, Pascal was designed as a pedagogical language.
    > There is a wealth of material that teaches programming concepts using
    Pascal
    > and most of it can be used with Delphi.
    >
    > Just as importantly, the Delphi IDE makes program development very easy.
    So
    > that step doesn't get in the way of learning important programming
    concepts.
    > More over its just plain fun to use and offers immediate positive feedback
    > when one does things correctly.
    >
    >

    I'm already leaning toward Delphi, but for other reasons which may be
    equally important: I first learned what little programming I know while
    using Paradox for DOS v3.5. Right away, I began asking questions in
    discussion groups on Compuserve, and the Paradox community was unbelievably
    helpful. People who obviously had bigger fish to fry would stop and write
    two page responses to my questions. From what I've seen here, that tradition
    seems to have been carried over to the Delphi community. That could be a
    valuable resource for my son. Sometimes, books just don't cut it.

    However, I'm curious: If Delphi didn't exist, what would be your next choice
    for a 14 year old who seems to be serious about pursuing programming (and
    whose dad is a stickler for good coding habits)?

  • Next message: Jud McCranie: "Re: Replacing Delphi developers"

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