Hedy: Creating a Programming Language for Everyone • Felienne Hermans • YOW! 2023

Discover how Hedy, a beginner-friendly programming language, is designed to be more inclusive and accessible for people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, prioritizing clear explanations, small steps, and encouragement.

Key takeaways

Programming should be made accessible to everyone, regardless of background or experience.
Many people struggle with programming due to the complexity of syntax and lack of clear explanations.
Hedy, a programming language, was designed to be more accessible and beginner-friendly, with a focus on ergonomics and facilitating learning.
The language should be created with non-Western cultures and languages in mind, and should support right-to-left writing.
Localization is important for reaching a wider audience and making programming more inclusive.
People should not be discouraged from learning programming due to stereotypes about it being “hard” or only for certain groups.
Software should be designed with diverse users in mind, including those with different abilities and needs.
Programming languages should be developed with feedback from diverse users and should support learning in different ways.
Error messages should be clear and helpful, not overwhelming or discouraging.
Teaching programming should be focused on the needs of the learners, rather than just the teacher’s knowledge.
Role models and mentorship are important for encouraging people to learn programming.
Programming languages should be designed to support learning and creativity, rather than just functionality.
Feedback from users is crucial for improving programming languages and making them more inclusive.
Programming should be accessible and enjoyable for people with different learning styles and abilities.
The way we teach programming matters, and should prioritize clear explanations, small steps, and encouragement.

Hedy: Creating a Programming Language for Everyone • Felienne Hermans • YOW! 2023

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