RCOS Application Spring 2011

I am planning to start a new open source programming project under the code name "Koala" through the RPI Center for Open Source software. This project centers around the creation of a new scripting language, tentatively named koala, directed toward those who would like to learn to program, but have difficulty finding where to start. This would be a first step in learning to program, making it easier and more accessible to younger beginning programmers.

Koala is planned to be entirely web based, allowing platform and location independence. A common issue in beginner programmers is setting up an appropriate programming environment, such as an IDE and compilers. Koala alleviates this issue being web based, making the only requirement to use koala a modern computer with internet access. Koala will harness technologies such as javascript, php, css, and recent HTML5 standards.

The syntax of koala is English based. An aim of koala is to be as human readable as possible, allowing users to read example code with virtually no programming experience whatsoever. An AI system will be in development to allow for early detections of mistakes and ambiguities. Every attempt will be made to make koala, and programming in general, as painless as possible to begin.

Koala aims to introduce some basic computer and programming concepts, and enable early programmers to seek out more for themselves. Some of the planned concepts to introduce are: programming languages, computer instructions, strict computer "understanding", project planning and organization, basic programming structures, variables, and of course patience and determination.

This project differs from other introductory programming projects such as MIT Scratch and mobile device app builders. Unlike Scratch, koala is web based for platform independence. It allows you to jump right into learning without having to download, install, or setup anything. Koala is also text based rather than a graphical flowchart (although a visualization feature has been considered) which is true to real world programming. In mobile device app building services, which also use graphical flowchart programming schemes, the intent is to make developing a mobile device app as easy as possible, without actually teaching you any programming. These also target mobile devices as their main platform, in contrast to koala, which requires only a computer with a modern web browser.

The goal of koala is to provide opportunities for younger students who have an interest in computers. This addresses a particular issue in the availability of computer education in grade school. Trying to get involved in computer programming can be very discouraging without the proper tools and direction. Especially in schools where opportunities for the technically inclined are limited, koala can give would-be programmers a foot hold and encourage them to seek more in programming, as well as introduce them to basic computer concepts.