Comments on: Is this something I absolutely have to be a kid to think is awesome?

Is this something I absolutely have to be a kid to think is awesome?

signal — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:03:18 -0800

In this century, you may have dozens of programming languages lurking on your machine. But how to use them?? A fundamental secret! Well, no more. We cannot stand for that. Hackety Hack will not stand to have you in the dark! Now with 100% more MeFi.

By: Pope Guilty

Pope Guilty — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:10:02 -0800

Well, I hadn't seen it yet. Thanks for this. *downloads*

By: brundlefly

brundlefly — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:13:28 -0800

Neat! I can't wait till the Mac version comes out.

By: JHarris

JHarris — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:14:38 -0800

This is cool. But the example download link in part 2 of the the tutoral on the wiki is even cooler, at least if you remember classic Sesame Street.

By: JHarris

JHarris — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:17:02 -0800

Oh, and in response to your tag, I think the mascot character is supposed to be a mouse.

By: mrnutty

mrnutty — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:22:15 -0800

I want to kill Why The Lucky Stiff based on his name alone.

By: datacenter refugee

datacenter refugee — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:28:01 -0800

I want to kill Why The Lucky Stiff based on his name alone. I did too until he gave me infinite grenades . . .

By: acro

acro — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:42:48 -0800

... anyone else installed get this? ... "When logged in to a restricted / limited access user account on Windows XP Professional SP2, and using the RunAs? command to run Hackety Hack as an administrator, the application launches but the application is unusable and the following message is displayed instead of content: uninitialized constant Camping

By: thecaddy

thecaddy — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:43:05 -0800

Whatever. I've been wanting to learn Ruby for a while, and this seems like the perfect way to ease myself back into programming. Hell yes. I used to be a CS major, but the damned liberal arts tempted me away . . .

By: stet

stet — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:53:27 -0800

DUUUUHH-ble. posted by phaedon at 8:06 PM on April 26 [+] [!] Um, I'm stupid I guess, please delete me and allow me to move on posted by phaedon at 8:07 PM on April 26 [+] [!] Um, I'm stupid I guess, please delete me and allow me to move on posted by phaedon at 8:07 PM on April 26 [+] [!] oh god stop i can't take it anymore posted by phaedon at 8:08 PM on April 26 [+] [!] Is it just me, or does it seem as though the metafilter code base has become self-aware and has picked up the general sense of humor around these parts?

By: infini

infini — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:14:34 -0800

metasingularity?

By: Hadroed

Hadroed — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:27:54 -0800

I think this is a great idea coupled with a great execution. Thanks for the post.

By: foxy_hedgehog

foxy_hedgehog — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:05:53 -0800

Anything like this out there for Mac users? I'd love to try my hand at this, if only to fail miserably.

By: IronLizard

IronLizard — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:10:47 -0800

Yes, sortof. (via Meta) It does it all in your browser.

By: russilwvong

russilwvong — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:18:23 -0800

I assume "Why The Lucky Stiff" reads MetaFilter? This is great. I just finished reading the quick guide to SQLite and Ruby. The author concludes: Hopefully this is a fitting introduction to SQLite in Ruby. If not, please contact me and spew wisdom.

By: Methylviolet

Methylviolet — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:39:52 -0800

I just did the first two lessons! I can ask and say! I can download mp3s and site feeds! W00t me. I 4M TEH HAXX0R. I also HAS CHEEZBURGER.

By: AtDuskGreg

AtDuskGreg — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:44:32 -0800

This project is awesome. It's great that _why's using his profoundly advanced skills (he's a Ruby core committer) and his deeply weird sense of humor to advance the general welfare. So many people drone on boringly about how important it is for kids to learn computers, only to come up with curricula that focus on using a spreadsheet or writing a resume. Following in the great spirit of LOGO, _why makes programming actually fun, playful, and subversive -- exactly what it takes for something to interesting to kids. I think he should be appointed Secretary of Education (or at least win a MacArthur "Genius" Grant)!

By: aparrish

aparrish — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:59:23 -0800

I was skeptical at first - why's poignant guide is fun and funny but nearly useless as a language primer (in my opinion, at least ...). But I dig Hackety Hack. How can you find fault in a programming tutorial that teaches you how to make a blog before it teaches you how to do arithmetic?

By: chuckdarwin

chuckdarwin — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 02:18:53 -0800

Firstly, thanks for the stinky linky; it will come in handy for me as I attempt to pay my rent by convincing everyone that my IT kung foo is unstoppable. Since this thread is shortly to be deleted, let me just say what a bunch of complete fucking freaks you guys are.

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 06:09:48 -0800

I am so trying this.

By: phaedon

phaedon — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 09:49:58 -0800

the metafilter code base had a little too much jameson's last night

By: infini

infini — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:26:54 -0800

meh. nothing like a peaty single malt for me sensitive tastebuds, thanks

By: signal

signal — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:04:44 -0800

What blows my mind is that he's teaching XML parsing and databases to 13 year olds.

By: Pope Guilty

Pope Guilty — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:26:58 -0800

What blows my mind is that he's teaching XML parsing and databases to 13 year olds. Now if only we can get the schools to STFU about BASIC and switch to this...

By: signal

signal — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:05:54 -0800

Actually, scew XML, he's teaching them frikkin' classes.

By: dozo

dozo — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 22:01:34 -0800

Cool, you can trade your programs back and forth between installs of Hackety pretty easily as well. This is awesome. hey NEPHEW...!

By: brundlefly

brundlefly — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 01:19:21 -0800

Damn it! Get busy on the Mac version, why!

By: mesmerx

mesmerx — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 10:33:56 -0800

Oh shizle! :)