Monday, June 6, 2011

Hypatia artwork by Hollyana Melear






I commission a triptych about Hypatia from my friend Hollyana Melear for my garden. For those who don't know, Hypatia was a nerd martyr -- the only female curator of the great library of Alexandria, she was kill by an angry Christian mob for being an smart uppity female.

There are three panels shown from left to right. The center has Hypatia holding the scroll of knowledge while the angry Christian mob attacks her. Some versions of her demise have her splayed with an abalone shell so there's a real abalone shell in the center bottom. On the left panel is the light house of the Alexandria as the mob chases her down under the christian cross while on the right panel Cyril plots her demise while destroying a scroll symbolic of rationalism. Incidentally, Cyril, who many have blamed for orchestrating her murder was sainted for his troubles.


Happy Fun Coding Tutorial #2 -- Variables and animation



Happy Fun Coding Tutorial #2 -- Variables and animation


Sunday, June 5, 2011

Happy Fun Coding Tutorial #1




This is the first of many tutorials I'm going to make about programming with happyfuncoding.com. If you've been curious about programming, it doesn't get any simpler than this!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

More happyfuncoding!


In the last few days I've put a lot of work into happyfuncoding.com -- my collaborative online programming environment that creates a place where you can fiddle with graphics code in an easy to use Javascript environment. It includes lots of samples, tutorials and challenges as well as a wiki so more experienced programmers can write tutorials and challenges for less experienced programmers.

Please, please pass it along! It needs people using it! :-)


Thursday, May 26, 2011

happyfuncoding.com



I'm please to announce the first version of my new learn-to-program environment called "happyfuncoding.com". It's a Javascript environment that allows novice programmers to create simple graphical programs with minimal fuss all from the web browser.

It also features an editable mini-browser with tutorial and challenge sections where more advanced programmers can create content to teach and challenge less experienced programmers.

I haven't added much in the way of tutorials yet, so if you're a programmer please come and help fill it out!

If you've never programed before, here's your chance to write your first "Hello world!"

Create an account to save your programs or edit the pages. Please report bugs by editing the "bugs and features" page off the home page in the mini-browser.