Ask HN: How do you make coding a more casual activity?
Is there any way to make coding something more casual and informal instead of being so structured and feeling unchangeable?
I want to tinker with this bit without causing this bit and that bit to blow up. I want to stretch this line without the code in line number 45 explode. I want a way to make coding feel more like I'm playing with putty and less like I'm working with cement.
What options are there (if any) for doing this?
Comments
forth? lisp? try coding naked?
I think if you can find a combination of:
- dynamic - REPL - good editor support - lots of libraries - easy bindings for text/graphic display
...that will be conducive to "playful" programming.
Some of it might be how you approach it. Try coding silly things for yourself. Write a program to greet you when you first turn on your computer...or render a graphic depicting how your favorite sports team is doing against their rivals..or whatever you can imagine.