Ask HN: How to introduce a 12-year-old to Linux and the command line?

4 points by meriksson 3 years ago | 3 comments

A friend of mine, a non-technical type, has a 12 year old son who is interested in computers. Their family has a pretty strict "no screens” policy, so using computers is not really a thing. My friend is willing to make an exception for his son, but he wants the focus to be on “a black screen with white text”. In other words, he wants the focus to be on Linux, the command line and programming, while limiting exposure to games etc. Using the web to learn about Linux and programming is OK, but computer time should mostly be about text rather than graphics and entertainment.

As a programmer myself, I want to encourage my friend to pursue this project. My own impression of the kid is that coding might be a good fit for him. But I’m a bit stumped as to specific recommendations.

Does anyone here have experiences of something similar? Any hints I can pass along to my friend would be greatly appreciated. Everything from types of projects the kid could work on while getting started to ideas about what distro to use, what programming language to start with etc.

In this particular case, the kid is very imaginative and writes stories, creates roleplaying adventures, designs his own boardgames etc, so the first thing that comes to mind is helping him get started making text-based games. Any suggestions on how to do that would be greatly appreciated!

dangitnotagain 3 years ago |

I was mastering DOS and BASIC (on my own) around that age so it’s definitely possible.

Here’s what I had going on

- I got a Vic 20 at 9, and started on ROM BASIC

- had my own computer in my room by 11. An IBM 8086 luggable (my dad got it from a friend and I was getting more time out of it so I eventually got full control)

- old BYTE magazines which were excellent. These had BASIC programs printed in them which I laboriously typed in.

- games. Games, games, games, games. You cannot exercise too much control and expect results.

Limiting screen time might make sense on phones or social media, though counter productive for true intimacy to develop. I was a slightly antisocial nerdy kid and the computer was my bestie.

Things are a bit different today, though one encouragement that I give other parents/kids is of the Scratch language. Obviously not a CLI language, though easy to get started and an adult who knows what their doing can produce a gratifying game in 15 - 60 minutes.

Running their own OS on a USB stick they can use to boot the family computer might be helpful, so they can have a personalized environment.

gjvc 3 years ago |

Give him a blank computer and a usb stick with the installer on it and let him go nuts. After a few goes he might surprise you.

You can't specify how imagination and creativity works up-front, only guide him when he's stuck.

taubek 3 years ago |

Maybe some Arduino/Raspberry Pi hardware would also be a good platform?