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Hi!

Soon I'll have my little nephew (13) in my company to check out software development for a week.

I'm working with large industry machines in real time Linux systems, so obviously I'd show him my test machine and if the customer agrees, I can show him some robots as well.
Also, he will get some crash course in computer basics.

He is an avid gamer - although not really good with computers.

I've gifted him a still nice laptop with Linux and Steam installed 1-2 years ago and he happily played Minecraft, but after some time he went back to his Switch 2.

Now he uses my Steam Deck - although that doesn't make that much of a difference...

I'd like to give him something fun as an exercise, that's is early rewarding.

Perfect would be, if he could code himself a little computer game, but that's completely out of my normal work stuff and I don't know what good options are available.

I guess starting with C++ and an Unreal engine or similar is more than an overkill.

Is there something, that is teaching the basics and gives rather quick rewards, which can produce a little something after 2-3 days?

Thank you all in advance!

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[-] bold_omi@lemmy.today 2 points 17 hours ago

Maybe. C++ is very complex, and has a lot of footguns, which is why I recommend avoiding it when possible. Giving a memory-unsafe language like C object-oriented capabilities was like giving a toddler a gun.

I think Minesweeper or Breakout in Godot would be good projects to give him that would take him a few hours. I wish you well in teaching him!

this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2026
44 points (97.8% liked)

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