Robocode is a good way to learn:

    http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-robocode/index.html
    http://robocode.alphaworks.ibm.com/home/home.html

It uses Java, but I don’t think it should be particularly difficult for a bright 13-year-old.

Lego Mindstorms is another cool way to learn programming:

    http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/default.asp

Paul


On 12/27/04 2:42 PM, "Daniel Asimov" <dasimov@earthlink.net> wrote:

My very bright 13-year-old nephew would like to  learn computer
programming (from scratch).  He's quite familiar with using software,
especially having used Midi music software for several years now.  
 
At this point I don't think he has any specific goal of building
a particular kind of software; he just wants to learn what
computer programming is all about.
 
Has anyone had success with a particular language and/or book
in similar circumstances?  All suggestions are welcome.
 
At this point I'd like to give him something simple (so probably
Java is out) but not too simple (so maybe Alice is out).  But my
mind's not made up about these, either.