The Beginner's Programming Handbook in Basic & Machine Code

Name: The Beginner's Programming Handbook in Basic & Machine Code
ISBN: 9780860207962

For the young, budding tech enthusiast eager to dive into the world of computers, this handbook offers a foundational introduction to programming. It sparks curiosity for how machines think.

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About This Book

A parent might reach for this book when their child expresses a deep curiosity about how computers and video games fundamentally work, beyond modern drag-and-drop interfaces. This classic 1984 handbook is a time capsule that teaches the core principles of programming using the BASIC and machine code languages common to early home computers. It is less a story and more a hands-on guide, encouraging resilience and perseverance as kids learn through trial and error. For the patient, detail-oriented child aged 10-14, this book offers the immense satisfaction of building something from scratch and truly understanding the logic of a machine.

Curiosity & Wonder Coding & Technology Creativity & Imagination Resilience & Perseverance Science Experiments Vehicles & Machines

What Parents Should Know

Cultural Content GapModerate

Technology and code are from the 1980s and require special emulator software to use today.

Sensitive Topics

None. The content is purely technical and instructional.

Ideal Reader

The ideal reader is a self-motivated, patient 11 to 14-year-old who enjoys logic puzzles and understanding how things work from the ground up. This child may have already explored block-based coding (like Scratch) and is asking for something more 'real' or fundamental. They are not easily discouraged and find satisfaction in methodical, detail-oriented tasks.