Seeing the response on HN to these kinds of tools/toys makes me wonder if they're marketed incorrectly.
These things aren't really teaching "how to code" (what we associate with stuff like Java, Python, etc.), but "how to think like a computer" or "how to break down and solve problems." I wonder if there would be an equally pessimistic reaction if the headline and marketing material said that instead.
I think a lot of being a successful developer comes from being able to think a certain way, and I think that these types of games/toys can definitely help children learn to think that way. I remember the Dr. Brain games giving me some of my first glimpses into this kind of literal, step-by-step thinking.
These things aren't really teaching "how to code" (what we associate with stuff like Java, Python, etc.), but "how to think like a computer" or "how to break down and solve problems." I wonder if there would be an equally pessimistic reaction if the headline and marketing material said that instead.
I think a lot of being a successful developer comes from being able to think a certain way, and I think that these types of games/toys can definitely help children learn to think that way. I remember the Dr. Brain games giving me some of my first glimpses into this kind of literal, step-by-step thinking.