A Programming Language for Children

Explore the development of Isla, a programming language designed for young children, in this JSConf talk. Discover how the Isla compiler, including its lexer, parser, and interpreter, was implemented to create a child-friendly coding environment. Learn about the unique grammar design choices, such as the absence of punctuation and sentence-like expressions, that make Isla accessible to young learners. Understand how advanced programming concepts like array and object assignments, function calls, conditionals, and logical rules are simplified into "baby talk" for easier comprehension. Gain insights into the Storytime environment, which allows children to use Isla for creating text adventures, potentially enabling them to start programming as early as age 5.

Mary Rose Cook: A programming language for children