Description
Picking up convo started by @adrn on twitter:
regarding Learning to program is getting harder blog post.
The gist is that "the barrier between using a computer and programming a computer is getting higher." and that we have to deal with the overheads of "installing software, cloning repositories, or setting the Python search path!" Options presented in the post:
Back to the future: One option is to create computers, like my Commodore 64, that break down the barrier between using and programming a computer. Part of the motivation for the Raspberry Pi, according to Eben Upton, is to re-create the kind of environment that turns users into programmers.
Face the pain: Another option is to teach students how to set up and use a software development environment before they start programming (or at the same time).
Delay the pain: A third option is to use cloud resources to let students start programming right away, and postpone creating their own environments.
Right now, in the context of Astropy Tutorials and Workshops, I vote for "Delay the pain" BUT with transparency. TELL them what we're sweeping under the rug and with what tool.
If we wanted to work with Software/Data Carpentry to request/fund/support a Lesson dedicated to environment management, I would be very supportive.