For kids using Windows I usually have them sign up for a free account on Cloud 9; again virtually no setup required.
Also, now you are trying to compare LINQPad, a tool, to just using a language?
In your example you used `Console.WriteLine("Hello World")`, excuse me if I'm wrong since I don't write much C# anymore, but isn't that an invalid statement? I'm pretty sure that's missing a semi-colon at the end. Try explaining that to an 8 year old; because that's the age of kids I start working with.
10.times do
puts "Hello World"
That is just easier to explain to a YOUNG child than the following
// Sorry: Using Java here since I don't do much C#, but I think we're in the same ballpark
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
for(int i=0; i<10; i++){
System.out.println("Hello World");
}
}
None of what I said was an insult against any language; it was based on my experiences trying to teach programming to elementary aged kids (8 to 11 year olds).
What you're argument boils down to is that `10.times.do` is better than `for(int i=0; i<10; i++)` because all things being equal, that's the real difference. You could argue against braces, but the I could also argue against the lack of braces. So the real difference is how you write the controlling section of the for loop.
Now on that point alone, I'd say that `10.times.do` is certainly easier to parse, but easier is not better. Why teach them a bad habit? Learning `for(int i=0; i<10; i++)` is actually better for kids since it hides less and it is actually much more useful in the real world since that's how the most widely used languages do it. Or, are you one of those adults who thinks that hiding the real world from kids is a good idea?
I guess you could also say that there is a reason we make things slightly easier for beginners of any age. Like having training wheels. But that is so you don't get hurt and the computer is not going to hurt anyone if the program doesn't compile. I also honestly don't think age matters here after they've been through the second grade.
EDIT: Also, yes, you can leave the semi-colon off in a LinqPad expression. But I also don't see a problem with explaining what a semi-colon is to a second or third grader, in the context of programming. I could also say "good luck explaining those oddly placed periods to those same kids" and it would make as much sense.