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Microsoft Small Basic is an ideal programming language and environment for small people and beginners
First, you have a simple and undaunting developer environment. You get a code window and a ribbon interface: that's it. But, believe it or not, you get full IntelliSense! Start typing and that lovely easy-to-use IntelliSense window pops up, prompting you with classes, methods and variables. If only I'd had IntelliSense when I was programming my ZX Spectrum!
There's access to a bunch of programmer libraries too, like Flickr (yes, you can access Flickr in Small Basic) or Turtle (yes, you can relive your teenage years by moving a turtle around your screen using Logo!).
Next up, there's a fantastic guide that walks you through a bunch of basic BASIC features, and also a few more complicated concepts like arrays and subroutines. The guide looks like it's aimed at teens, though I'm sure a younger child could follow it with the help of an adult. Then, when you're done with everything Small Basic has to offer (and it has a lot!), there's a 'graduate' button that you can hit -- which imports your Small Basic project into Visual Basic. Neat!
Finally, and this bit floored me, there's an 'export' function. Click it, and your program is uploaded to smallbasic.com -- check it out. That's my Small Basic program... running in Silverlight. Notice how you can embed it on any website too. Small Basic is just gagging to be the centerpiece of some kind of 'young programmers' community! Maybe that's what Microsoft has planned -- for the time being, they just have a little info about Small Basic... but time will tell!
It's really fantastic to see recent developments in programming environments turned into educational tools. Well done, Microsoft!
Comments
12
Subscribe to commentsm0r1artyJun 10th 2010 10:33AM
I don't touch Silverlight and so can't see your work Seb, sorry.
Can it run the infamous:
10 PRINT "Scott is cool";;;
20 GOTO 10
30 END
program that I remember seeing lighting up John Menzies and Dixons all over the UK in 1983?
Sebastian AnthonyJun 10th 2010 10:42AM
Yes, much to my chagrin, there is actually a section in the guide on how to use GOTO :)
BaerTheSkyJun 10th 2010 12:24PM
This is AWESOME!
skyblazeJun 10th 2010 1:00PM
this could be a great way for me to finally get into programming
i've always been interested... just never found the best way to start learning
Brett N.Jun 10th 2010 4:53PM
This /is/ awesome. But its too bad MS has it tied down to using Silverlight and other proprietary technologies, instead of more open technologies such as AJAX and HTML5. I really wish there was an easier way to learn that stuff. Don't these companies realize the future is the web? (And I mean the "native" web, not the plugin-infused one).
I realize that flash and Silverlight may provide for richer experiences, but there are some people (such as one commenter above) that won't even touch them. And as HTML5 matures, I think (and hope) it will overtake Flash as the dominant rich-media experience on the web.
So, Microsoft needs to put aside their commercial interests, and focus on training kids and teens web programming, instead of native Windows. And yes, I noticed some (fairly good) training material on their site, but there needs to be more of it. And perhaps an easy-to-use IDE like this, but for the web... Or better yet, go one further and make the IDE for the web a webapp as well...
Oh well, so there's my rant for the day. ;-)
John DJun 10th 2010 7:56PM
I think these apps are client apps that are simple enough to be dumped into silverlight, particularly if they are using WPF. So no, you don't need silverlight to make them work, only to look at 'em in a browser.
While HTML5 and AJAX and all are nice, the need for client apps will never go away, no matter how much gets moved onto external servers. Good to see Microsoft putting a friendly, open feel on programming and trying to brin more people into the fold. Wish they had this when I started!
Sebastian AnthonyJun 11th 2010 11:34AM
It's a good rant, but... I think we'll have to agree to disagree.
This is a perfect example of what Silverlight is for!
@davey_ladJun 10th 2010 3:38PM
You didn't need intellisense on the Speccy... everthing was printed on the keys.
Oh the good old days.
jValdronJun 10th 2010 6:46PM
Yeah Small Basic is pretty nice. We had a secondary level competition at my college using Small Basic. Youngsters, that wasn't really coding gurus, really like it and had a great time :)
Sebastian AnthonyJun 10th 2010 7:36PM
Awesome!
I've already sent it on to the computing teacher at my old school... hopefully they can do something with it :)
RirathJun 11th 2010 1:48PM
QBasic was my first programming language, and the one I had by far the most fun in. In my college days I had planned on becoming a programmer but instead went into web development, as ASP/PHP/SQL scripting reminded me more of the simplicity and fun of BASIC.
There was a yearly SkillsUSA competition which I entered for web design, but also signed up for the "Qbasic" competition when I saw it on the list out of sheer amusement. Never expected to see a QBasic competition. Didn't think I'd even get through the qualifying exam but I surprisingly ended up coming back with 1st place in both at the state level. (That competition didn't go any higher.)
There's something pretty amusing about having a 1st place medal for Qbasic. :)
Sebastian AnthonyJun 11th 2010 2:22PM
QBasic State Champion...
I hope you got a trophy! Or a medal!