Young Programmers Podcast

By Dave Briccetti

Technology Education K-12 Software How-To

What's Young Programmers Podcast about?

A video podcast for computer programmers in grades 3 and up. We learn about Scratch, Tynker, Alice, Python, Pygame, and Scala, and interview interesting programmers. From professional software developer and teacher Dave Briccetti, and many special guests.

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Young Programmers Podcast episodes:

07.19.2013
Introduction to Python Functions
A look at how to, and why you should, use functions in your Python programs.
06.27.2013
A Simple Python Quiz Program, Part 3
We enhance the quiz program by reading the questions and answers from a file. Source code
06.13.2013
Tynker—Physics and Cloning
Let’s look at two very nice features of Tynker. The physics feature allows you to have falling objects and accurate projectile motion, combined with adjustments for gravity, friction, density, gravity, and much more. Cloning lets you have multiple instances of...
06.03.2013
Simple Python Calculator using a Dictionary and Functions for Operators
This lesson creates a simple calculator using a dictionary to look up functions for operators. The point is to practice more with dictionaries, and to learn about higher-order functions. Source code
02.18.2012
Kojo Wandering Turtles
Showing how to create multiple turtles in Kojo, and make them wander around. Uses Scala features map and foreach.
01.14.2012
Using Python's Input Function with Numbers
We show how to use Python's input function to get numbers, without the program breaking if something other than a number is entered.
11.12.2011
A Simple Python Quiz Program, Part 2
We respond to a viewer question and add features to limit the number of questions displayed, and to display the questions that were answered wrong.
07.22.2011
Russell Hunter shows a Scratch project
Dave Briccetti’s College for Kids student Russell Hunter shows a Scratch project.
07.22.2011
Chester Hunter shows his Scratch project, “Blink”
Dave Briccetti’s College for Kids student Chester Hunter shows his Scratch project, “Blink.”
07.14.2011
Demonstration of Audacity for Making Sound Effects
How to make special sound effects using the free audio program Audacity. A small correction: I said that a 13-semitone change would move the pitch an octave, but it is actually 12. There are 12 different notes, and to move...
07.05.2011
Carter Sande Teaches Python Functions
Carter Sande teaches how to use functions to a class at Diablo Valley College College for Kids. A couple of notes on this excellent presentation: At one point Carter says “brackets” when he means parentheses. And for style, I prefer...
07.05.2011
Python Simple Text Adventure 3
We add a feature limiting the number of times an event can occur.
05.28.2011
Kojo (Scala) Random Polygon Drawing
A demonstration of Kojo's repeat, forward, right, def, setPosition, and setAnimationDelay commands used to draw random polygons.
02.20.2011
Python Simple Text Adventure 2
Part Two. Using a package and classes, we move most of the game logic into a game "engine." Source code: https://github.com/dcbriccetti/python-lessons.
02.19.2011
Python Simple Text Adventure
Using tuples and a dictionary, places and transitions, create a simple text adventure game. Source code.
01.09.2011
A Simple Python Quiz Program
Learn about lists, tuples, and shuffling lists, while writing a simple question and answer program. Source code. Video.
10.22.2010
Interviews With Professional Programmers, Part Six
Hilary Mason of bit.ly talks about her work and how she got started with computers.
10.10.2010
Wesley Chun on Python
Googler, Python book author, and former College for Kids teacher Wesley Chun visits Dave Briccetti’s Python class by videoconferencing. He talks about learning Python and how it is used by Google.
06.24.2010
Randomness in Python Lesson by Carter Sande
Carter Sande, young coauthor of the Python book Hello World! - Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners, visits Dave Briccetti’s Python programming class for grades 7–9 at Pleasant Hill, CA’s Diablo Valley College College for Kids program, and delivers...
06.06.2010
JavaFX Ship Landing Game from Peter Pilgrim
While out to lunch one day at the Java Posse Roundup, Peter Pilgrim showed me his ship landing game written in JavaFX. (Sorry about the blurry parts.)
02.07.2010
Interviews With Game Developers
Interviews about game development with Bay Area Video Game Development Meetup members at the January 19, 2010 meetup. Casey Holtz, group leaderTuri Scandurra, www.salvatorescandurra.comGreg Damiano, PlaydomSimon Amarasingham, dSonicJapheth Dillman, iJanda.net
02.07.2010
Interviews With Professional Programmers, Part Five
Michael (Van) Van Riper, at a Silicon Valley Web Java User Group (see Joshua Bloch in the background) talks about programming.
12.27.2009
Invisible Player Escapes Maze, Pygame Version 1
Walkthrough of version 1 of the Invisible Player Escapes Maze game in Pygame. Source code
12.25.2009
Invisible Player Escapes Maze
Escape the maze. You are invisible, and so are all the obstacles unless they are close to you. Illustrates use of the ghost effect, and broadcast. http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/davebric/818925
12.24.2009
Growing Player Escapes Maze
Escape the maze before you grow too big. Illustrates use of the timer, and “if touching color.” The Scratch project is here: http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/davebric/818258
12.24.2009
Jython/Swing Game of Life Version 2
A very quick look at version 2 of our Jython implementation of Conway’s Game of Life. Source code

What's Young Programmers Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Young Programmers Podcast episodes:

Introduction to Python Functions

A Simple Python Quiz Program, Part 3

Tynker—Physics and Cloning

Simple Python Calculator using a Dictionary and Functions for Operators

Kojo Wandering Turtles

Using Python's Input Function with Numbers

A Simple Python Quiz Program, Part 2

Russell Hunter shows a Scratch project

Chester Hunter shows his Scratch project, “Blink”

Demonstration of Audacity for Making Sound Effects

Carter Sande Teaches Python Functions

Python Simple Text Adventure 3

Kojo (Scala) Random Polygon Drawing

Python Simple Text Adventure 2

Python Simple Text Adventure

A Simple Python Quiz Program

Interviews With Professional Programmers, Part Six

Wesley Chun on Python

Randomness in Python Lesson by Carter Sande

JavaFX Ship Landing Game from Peter Pilgrim

Interviews With Game Developers

Interviews With Professional Programmers, Part Five

Invisible Player Escapes Maze, Pygame Version 1

Invisible Player Escapes Maze

Growing Player Escapes Maze

Jython/Swing Game of Life Version 2