"You can do good computer science with a desktop, a tablet, or a pen and paper. "
What development environments run well on a tablet?
I haven't tried it, but people say nice things about Swift Playground. If you add a keyboard and an internet connection you can also use any of the web based IDEs and programming notebooks out there.
Why would you do this over a setup with real keyboards and a big screen? I couldn't imagine myself staring a tablet the whole day.
Why would you do this over a setup with real keyboards and a big screen
Given the choice I wouldn't, my point was more that only having access to an iPad is no reason to not be able to learn how to program.
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by chrisseaton on Monday October 08, 2018 @11:53AM
(#18168550)
If you attach a Bluetooth keyboard and use a larger tablet what is the effective difference between that and a small laptop?
Nothing, but that's disingenuous, because kids aren't hanging out with keyboards and >11inch screens.
Once we have 24" tablets maybe this would work for me.
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by chrisseaton on Monday October 08, 2018 @10:56AM
(#18168024)
Just one example is https://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab-mobile.html
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by thrower123 on Monday October 08, 2018 @09:05AM
(#18167021)
Because doing real work requires using a desktop computer.
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by technomalogical on Monday October 08, 2018 @11:43AM
(#18168461)
It does now. But will that be the case in the future? History seems to indicate that the interfaces and paradigms will continue to change. There will be an awkward period (now?) where you need to know both types of interfaces, but there may be a period where touch, voice, or other interfaces replace the now-archaic file cabinet metaphor that the desktop uses today. Look at Windows and all the metaphors that a child today has no context with which to relate: a manila folder, a file cabinet, a floppy disk, an address book, a wall calendar. It seems likely that this will change, and with it the need to understand today's (and that of the last 20-30 years) desktop computer.
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by chrisseaton on Monday October 08, 2018 @09:40AM
(#18167276)
I did my entire PhD and five years of a career without using a desktop computer whatsoever, using a laptop instead, so this isn't true is it.
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by thrower123 on Monday October 08, 2018 @09:51AM
(#18167406)
Well yeah, sure. Laptops and desktops are largely convergent. Smartphones and most tablets are considerably more gimped.
In this context a laptop and desktop are the same.
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by commandlinefan on Monday October 08, 2018 @10:35AM
(#18167813)
I think he meant instead of an ipad.
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by Double_a_92 on Monday October 08, 2018 @10:43AM
(#18167895)
I counted laptops as desktops here...
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by chrisseaton on Monday October 08, 2018 @11:00AM
(#18168053)
Well ok then how about running MATLAB on your iPad - you could do a lot of productive work using just that.
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by AlexeyBrin on Monday October 08, 2018 @11:15AM
(#18168185)
How many children have the money to buy a Matlab license ?
Re:Teaching CS in the schools
by Double_a_92 on Monday October 08, 2018 @10:52AM
(#18167981)
> Why is desktop computing the true computing that identifies whether you're native or not?
It's the one platform that allows you to be really productive (at least in an office context).
I personally already struggle when trying to write some proper longer text on a smartphone or table. I don't think I could comfortably write some nice Word letter with maybe some custom design on such a device.
It maybe works out if you are some artist... Idk.
They're not native with the desktop computer metaphor, but so what? Why does that matter? Why is desktop computing the true computing that identifies whether you're native or not?
And of course, none of this has anything to do with computer science, does it? You can do good computer science with a desktop, a tablet, or a pen and paper.