[Edu-sig] Re: Edu-sig digest, Vol 1 #526 - 1 msg

[John Miller]

First, let me say that I haven't actually downloaded and tried pyKarel 
yet, my comment is based strictly on the screenshots at the website. 
 From those screenshots, it appears that users of the system are 
inputting *Karel* commands to make the robot perform certain activities. 
However, I would much rather see users inputting *Python* commands to 
make the robot perform those activities. Karel is designed to introduce 
programming concepts to beginning users, yet I would much rather those 
users be learning Python instead of Karel, which would have to be 
unlearned if and when they got to Python proper. Perhaps pyKarel could 
be repurposed to 'pyBot' or something similar that taught the same 
programming concepts using the Python language?

Nevertheless, admirable job by the students!

John Miller

On Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at 12:00  PM, jeff@elkner.net wrote:

> Hi All,
> [snip]
> The most telling result of these efforts is the release of a Python
> implementation of Karel the Robot, with a graphical interface written in
> wxPython by Yorktown student programmers Donald Oellerich and Wassem
> Daher.  This project would not have been finished on time (and I should
> add, under budget ;-) if it were not for Michele's generous help.
>
> The Project now has a sourceforge site at:
>
> http://pykarel.sourceforge.net