[Edu-sig] python vs processing for introducing programming?

[Andy Judkis]

Hello,

I've been using Python for about 7 or 8 years now to introduce my 10th 
graders to programming, and I've been quite happy with it.  We start out 
with a week of Scratch and a week of RUR-PLE (which I love) before 
moving on to about 3 weeks of Python.  Obviously they don't become 
experts in that time frame, my goal is to just give them a taste of 
programming.

I've tried various Python environments and graphics libraries over the 
years -- IDLE with livewires, IDLE with the cs1graphics package, JES, 
vpython -- and they all have their virtues and pitfalls, at least for my 
application.  I've recently become aware of Processing and am really 
intrigued.  Here are some advantages I see:

  * some fun lessons on khanacademy to get started (a processing library
    for javascript, actually)
  * very easy installation, nice simple IDE
  * graphical from day 1, very easy interaction with mouse
  * there's a great book on using processing with Kinect (Making Things
    See, from O'Reilly) and I think I can demo and talk about some cool
    stuff from that


The obvious downsides to me are:

  * no RUR-PLE
  * overall, Processing just isn't as real-world useful as Python


I'd be interested in hearing from anyone with experience in teaching 
Processing to this age group, and anyone with any thoughts on the topic.

Thanks,
Andy Judkis
Academy of Allied Health and Science
Neptune, NJ
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