[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":320},["ShallowReactive",2],{"project-3393093":3},{"id":4,"name":5,"line":6,"line_source":7,"title":8,"url":9,"domain":9,"maker":10,"posted_at":11,"year":12,"points":13,"comments":14,"rank_in_year":15,"shown_in_year":16,"top":17,"tier":18,"category":19,"subcategory":20,"format":21,"keywords":22,"reception":27,"sentiment":28,"stance_mix":29,"scored_comments":34,"aspects":35,"strip":41,"post_text":44,"what":45,"said":66,"maker_in_thread":177,"shape":186,"grid":190,"attempts":280,"same_week":281,"maker_shows":31,"maker_hidden":312,"reader_version":313,"card":314},"3393093","Daisy the Dinosaur","An iPad app to teach kids how to program","title","Show HN: An iPad app to teach kids how to program",null,"smj2118",1324913874,2011,57,36,222,1097,21,"notable","languages","educational programming environment","mobile_app",[23,24,25,26],"kids programming","learn to code","ipad app","visual programming","roasted",-0.12,{"positive":30,"neutral":31,"mixed":32,"critical":33},4,1,0,6,11,{"design":36,"idea":38,"execution":39,"performance":40},{"positive":37,"critical":37},2,{"positive":32,"critical":37},{"positive":32,"critical":31},{"positive":32,"critical":31},[31,32,32,32,42,32,31,32,32,32,31,43,32,32,32,32,32,32,32,32,32,32,32,32,32,42,31,32,42,42,31,31,32,32,32,32],5,3,"This app is a graphical programming environment for kids to learn coding by creating animations.\n\nAlthough we released it to the app store it's still more of a beta version and we would love to solicit feedback from HNers with iPads. To me, programming is something that kids could really enjoy but the obstacles in their way (getting a programming environment, publishing their code, learning syntax) make the barriers to entry unnecessarily high. We're hoping this will be a good first step in overcoming some of that.\n\nhttp:\u002F\u002Fitunes.apple.com\u002Fus\u002Fapp\u002Fdaisy-the-dinosaur\u002Fid490514278?ls=1&mt=8\n\nTell ",{"problem":46,"audience":52,"pricing":9,"motivation":58,"time_to_build":9,"stack":62,"openness":63,"stage":64,"team_size":65},{"value":47,"source":48,"evidence":49},"Barriers to entry for kids learning programming, such as setup, publishing and syntax","maker",[50],{"id":51},"post",{"value":53,"source":48,"evidence":54},"Kids learning to program, around ages 9-11 according to the maker",[55],{"id":56,"by":10,"text":57},"3394482","Thanks, I do agree that it needs more goals to be built in, especially if we want it to become stickier and more addictive. The incredible machine sounds cool, I will chcek it…",{"value":59,"source":48,"evidence":60},"Make programming enjoyable and accessible for kids",[61],{"id":51},[],"unknown","beta","team",{"praise":67,"objections":80,"requests":117,"questions":139,"alternatives":144},[68],{"value":69,"source":70,"evidence":71},"Good concept and graphics","commenter",[72,76],{"id":73,"by":74,"text":75},"3393231","lowglow","Good luck, Samantha -- looks great :) Also, clickable : http:\u002F\u002Fitunes.apple.com\u002Fus\u002Fapp\u002Fdaisy-the-dinosaur\u002Fid490514278?ls=1&mt=8",{"id":77,"by":78,"text":79},"3393165","tdenkinger","Congratulations for getting this out in front of people. Good luck. I'll be checking it out.",[81,92,96,103,110],{"value":82,"source":70,"evidence":83},"Lacks a clear objective or mission structure, so kids get bored",[84,88],{"id":85,"by":86,"text":87},"3393953","laironald","I learned to program on my TI-82 calculator because I couldn't pay attention in my Engrish class. Learning to program allowed me to actually understand the math I was studying…",{"id":89,"by":90,"text":91},"3394154","dpcan","I totally agree. Programming is a hard thing to \"teach\" when so many of us \"learn\" it in order to accomplish something. As the saying goes, some things are taught, and others are…",{"value":93,"source":70,"evidence":94},"Cutesy style may not suit older kids",[95],{"id":89,"by":90,"text":91},{"value":97,"source":70,"evidence":98},"Programming illusion may discourage kids when real coding is harder",[99],{"id":100,"by":101,"text":102},"3393476","klausa","I always wondered how successful those apps and languages (Logo etc.) are as learning tools. It seems like a great idea - you make colorful apps, that are easy to fiddle with and…",{"value":104,"source":70,"evidence":105},"Runs slowly on first-gen iPad",[106],{"id":107,"by":108,"text":109},"3393866","rbreve","It runs very slow on my 1st gen iPad",{"value":111,"source":70,"evidence":112},"Webview app instead of a website",[113],{"id":114,"by":115,"text":116},"3393230","the-kenny","I like the concept and the graphics, but I dislike \"website in a webview\"-apps. Why not simply release this app as a website?",[118,125,132],{"value":119,"source":70,"evidence":120},"Add mission-based structure and goals",[121,122],{"id":85,"by":86,"text":87},{"id":123,"by":86,"text":124},"3393962","I don't think kids will make such a big jump. :) But I agree in a point you made... you can't expect a \"learning tool\" to be created with just a few cute graphics. I would argue…",{"value":126,"source":70,"evidence":127},"Visual or touch-based programming instead of text",[128],{"id":129,"by":130,"text":131},"3393688","floggit","I would move away from text-based programming and try a visual metaphor approach, especially on the ipad when touch\u002Fgesture are fundamentally easier for kids to learn, i.e.…",{"value":133,"source":70,"evidence":134},"Portuguese version",[135],{"id":136,"by":137,"text":138},"3393246","andycds","Let me know if you want your app in Portuguese. software.pro.br",[140],{"value":141,"source":70,"evidence":142},"Why not release as a website",[143],{"id":114,"by":115,"text":116},[145,152,159,166,170],{"value":146,"source":70,"evidence":147},"Logo and turtle graphics",[148],{"id":149,"by":150,"text":151},"3393690","aaronblohowiak","One of the most important skills a programmer needs is rigorous thinking. You can not \"wish\" the turtle to do something different -- and whatever it does is a direct result of…",{"value":153,"source":70,"evidence":154},"Scratch",[155],{"id":156,"by":157,"text":158},"3393268","base2john","Great news, I hope this means Apple will allow MIT's Scratch into the App Store soon. http:\u002F\u002Fcomputinged.wordpress.com\u002F2010\u002F04\u002F15\u002Fapple-removes-scratch-from-ipadiphoneitouch\u002F",{"value":160,"source":70,"evidence":161},"Small BASIC",[162],{"id":163,"by":164,"text":165},"3397000","BdR76","As recently as 2011, Microsoft launched Small BASIC, although that might be more aimed at kids. But anyway it's entry level, that's for sure. http:\u002F\u002Fsmallbasic.com",{"value":167,"source":70,"evidence":168},"Toontastic",[169],{"id":129,"by":130,"text":131},{"value":171,"source":70,"evidence":172},"Island of Dr. Brain",[173],{"id":174,"by":175,"text":176},"3408129","missrobot","Agreed that having a mission or goal is important. What comes to mind for me is a game called the Island of Dr. Brain that I played as a kid. There was a section in the game…",{"comments":33,"answered":37,"key":178},[179,182,183],{"id":180,"text":181},"3394477","Thanks for the insight. The reason the dinosaur is a bit cutesy is that we wanted to appeal to both genders. A dinosaur devouring jedi might get boys interested but would…",{"id":56,"text":57},{"id":184,"text":185},"3393522","That's an interesting comment, it sounds like you've experienced the frustrations of programming first hand. Basically what you're talking about is the issue we want to solve.…",{"commenters":187,"max_depth":30,"maker_replies":33,"first_comment_mins":188,"lifespan_hours":189},28,42,97,[191,193,197,199,201,203,204,206,210,212,214,215,217,220,221,224,226,229,232,234,237,240,243,246,247,250,251,253,256,259,262,265,269,271,274,277],[85,32,31,192,86,32],"project\u002Fcritical\u002Fdesign",[194,32,32,195,196,32],"3394143","other\u002Fneutral\u002Fnone","whatusername",[89,32,32,198,90,32],"commenter\u002Fneutral\u002Fdesign",[180,32,32,200,10,31],"maker\u002Fneutral\u002Fdesign",[174,32,42,202,175,32],"project\u002Fpositive\u002Fdesign",[56,32,32,200,10,31],[100,31,31,205,101,32],"project\u002Fcritical\u002Fidea",[207,31,32,208,209,32],"3393515","commenter\u002Fneutral\u002Fidea","xyzzyz",[184,31,32,211,10,31],"maker\u002Fneutral\u002Fidea",[149,31,32,213,150,32],"other\u002Fneutral\u002Fidea",[123,31,31,192,86,32],[129,37,43,216,130,32],"project\u002Fneutral\u002Fdesign",[218,37,32,195,219,32],"3393738","KeithMajhor",[156,43,32,195,157,32],[222,30,32,195,223,32],"3393454","jocastette",[225,30,32,211,10,31],"3393529",[227,30,32,195,228,32],"3394905","ChronosWS",[230,30,32,195,231,32],"3393533","sc00ter",[233,30,32,195,223,32],"3393761",[235,30,32,236,231,32],"3394566","commenter\u002Fneutral\u002Fnone",[238,30,32,236,239,32],"3396709","LeBleu",[241,30,32,195,242,32],"3393819","nkvoll",[244,30,32,195,245,32],"3395268","tangentially",[163,30,32,195,164,32],[248,30,32,195,249,32],"3399014","isonno",[73,42,42,202,74,32],[114,33,31,252,115,32],"project\u002Fcritical\u002Fexecution",[254,33,32,255,10,31],"3393306","maker\u002Fneutral\u002Fexecution",[77,257,42,258,78,32],7,"maker\u002Fpositive\u002Fnone",[136,260,42,261,137,32],8,"project\u002Fpositive\u002Fnone",[107,263,31,264,108,32],9,"project\u002Fcritical\u002Fperformance",[266,267,31,205,268,32],"3393528",10,"drhowarddrfine",[270,267,32,211,10,31],"3393539",[272,267,32,208,273,32],"3393558","mover",[275,267,32,195,276,32],"3393575","ebf",[278,267,32,236,279,32],"3393767","ryanwaggoner",[],[282,287,292,297,302,307],{"id":283,"name":284,"points":285,"category":286},"3401591","subpug",153,"productivity",{"id":288,"name":289,"points":290,"category":291},"3393167","FnordMetric",151,"data",{"id":293,"name":294,"points":295,"category":296},"3399781","Logging in with QR codes (proof of concept)",86,"security_privacy",{"id":298,"name":299,"points":300,"category":301},"3384133","Codecademy Labs",83,"learning_science",{"id":303,"name":304,"points":305,"category":306},"3393118","logger.conceptis.org \u002F logmon",58,"dev_tools",{"id":308,"name":309,"points":310,"category":311},"3391841","chat",47,"consumer_social",false,"v2",{"id":315,"name":5,"line":6,"ai":312,"cat":19,"year":12,"points":13,"comments":14,"rec":27,"s":28,"top":17,"kw":316,"maker":10,"domain":317,"tier":18,"attempts":32,"strip":318,"url":-1,"mix":319,"praise":69,"objection":82,"sub":20},3393093,[23,24,25,26],"","100050100013000000000000051055110000",[30,31,32,33],1793990877307]