[omaha] November meeting

[Luke Schollmeyer]

I think I was going to do a walk through some Python-based geography
libraries, but if you have a burning desire to present this, I can defer.
No biggie for me.

Luke

On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 9:40 AM, Hubert Hickman via Omaha <omaha at python.org>
wrote:

> I'll volunteer to fill the slot at the November meeting.
>
> Building the Bricklayer IDE
>
> Hubert Hickman
> Victor Winter
> Betty Love
>
> Bricklayer programs produce virtual LEGO, Minecraft, and 3D-printable
> artifacts.
>
> http://www.bricklayer.org
> > Bricklayer.org <http://bricklayer.org/> was created to teach and improve
> > coding for people of all ages and backgrounds in a manner that is both
> > engaging and effective. Our website provides an infrastructure, freely
> > available to all, that gives special attention to people having no prior
> > coding experience, and extra special attention to elementary school
> > children. We believe that if you are old enough to use an iPad or type,
> you
> > are old enough to learn how to code.
>
>
>
> >
> > In order to reach the broadest possible audience, the this web site
> > provides (1) paper-and-pencil exercises, (2) interactive web apps, (3) a
> > link to a YouTube channel containing instructional videos, (4) a
> > programming environment, called Bricklayer, in which programs can be
> > written that construct LEGO artifacts, (5) coding assignments, (6)
> > educational content and (7) events.
>
>
>
> >
> > Bricklayer programs are written in the functional programming language
> > SML, a state-of-the-art high-level language having an exceptionally clear
> > syntax and semantics. We believe the programming language in which a
> > person writes their first program can have significant long-term impact
> > on the computational thinking skills they develop. This connection
> between
> > thought and language has long been acknowledged, within the field of
> > computer science (as well as in other disciplines).
>
>
>
> >
> > “…that the tools we are trying to use and the language or notation we are
> > using to express or record our thoughts, are the major factors
> determining
> > what we can think or express at all!”
> > Edsger Dijkstra, ACM Turing Award Lecture 1972
>
>
> The Python part of the project is the creation of an lightweight IDE for
> Bricklayer programming on Mac OS X and Windows.  This IDE includes an
> embedded SML interpreter along with the Bricklayer library code.   Features
> include SML aware editing, error message indicators, and more.
>
> The talk will include a general introduction to Bricklayer, the newly
> developed IDE, and overall goals and experience of the Bricklayer team in
> the use of the software in local school districts, homeschool groups, and
> future directions.
>
> Hubert
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