D vs Java as a first programming language

[David Gileadi]

Chad J wrote:
> Hmmmm, now this may be of zero interest to the OP, but I the appearance 
> of yet another programming pedagogy thread has caused me to spawn a 
> crazy idea.
> 
> Disclaimer:  This is probably a bad idea.
> 
> So what if one of the ways to institutionally teach beginning 
> programming was to just institutionalize the way I learned how to 
> program?  You set up an Ultima Online server.  Customize it to cater to 
> macroing/botting.  So it's kind of like robocode, but more RPGish and 
> with some obligatory grindy numerical crap that has to be done before 
> you are actually good at the game.
> 

I learned to program playing a warbots game on a Mac Classic.  I started 
by making my own robot icons and moved up to customizing and then 
programming my own bots in a calculator/assembly-like language.  My 
brother is learning to program by creating Flash movies and having a 
desire to add interactivity.  The difficulty would be formalizing this 
method of learning; it works great at your own pace but imposing a pace 
might defeat the method.

And yup, I read your whole post ;)

-Dave