Welcome to Computer Programming For Kids (CP4K)

Welcome to the Computer Programming for Kids blog! We are the co-authors of the book "Hello World! Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners", released in March 2009. The book is published by Manning Publications. Manning has a web site for the book, which is where you can download the software and other files related to the book. You can purchase it here, at the Manning web site. If you use this link to purchase the print book or e-book from the Manning web site, you can use the discount code aupromo40 at checkout to get a 40% discount. You can also get it through online retailers like Amazon, as well as in many retail locations such as Chapters in Canada and Barnes & Noble in the U.S. This blog is mostly about the book (for now), but anything related to computers and programming, particularly for kids and beginners, is fair game. We will post articles with extra material that didn't make it into the book, and reader feedback and suggestions are always welcome.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

What to do if you're having problems.

Every programmer, new or not, will encounter some difficulties. If this happens, we're here to help! Here are the top 3 things to look for when programs have an error.
  1. Proper version of Python and all required modules. Did you use our book's installer to get Python? If not, get the installer here and follow the instructions.
  2. Indentation. Make sure spacing is correct. This is very important in Python.
  3. Check for typos. A silly thing like a spelling error or typing _ instead of - might cause your program to have an error. Make sure it matches the one in the book.
If you still can't figure it out, leave a comment on our blog, post a question on our Author Forum, or e-mail us at cp4khelp@yahoo.com . We do our best to get back to you within 48 hours.

--Carter