[Verba] Meta issues

[Stuart D. Gathman]

You can see the reviews I posted for last year at 
http://gathman.org/pipermail/verba/

Last year, we used a very high level language called Python.  We still 
had to learn about coding.  This is not a class - and although I have 
plenty of stuff to present via lecture, the goal is to have you, the 
students, drive the club.  Last year, we explored a number of 
interesting topics, including group theory.

I think that a look at what is happening "under the covers" will help 
you understand a high level language better.  That is why I am starting 
there this year.  From there, if you wanted to, we could apply low level 
skills to creating a linux device driver.   (I have an old device with a 
partial driver as a starting point.)  There is a *lot* of nitty gritty 
detail in such a project.  Or we could continue the project of writing a 
game.  When clubs ended, Rebecca and Jilian were in the middle of 
reimplementing the classic "robots" game in python.  Games are a good 
way to learn programming.  Another project I thought of is to use an 
Intel 4004 emulator, and write a program for a Microwave oven or other 
appliance (definitely low level).

Finally, "Gödel, Escher, Bach" is recommended reading for understanding 
computer concepts.