No Starch Press has released a new book based on the most popular PC game of all time, Minecraft. Titled Learn to Program with Minecraft, the book uses the game to introduce fans to the beginner-friendly Python programming language. The publisher promises a fun, hands-on approach to programming, filled with step-by-step directions. The instructions are designed to make things clear for readers of all ages and experience levels.
“My book makes learning to program accessible and engaging for people of all ages,” says the book’s author, Craig Richardson. “Parents and teachers know how valuable it is to learn how to program, but add the fun and creativity of Minecraft while giving your player superpowers, and who can resist? Learn to Program with Minecraft shows readers how to take control of Minecraft with programming, and it’s really exciting for kids to see a pyramid or palace appear in their Minecraft world out of nothing more than a few lines of code.”
The book promises a series of interactive and engaging missions as they learn how to write programs that:
- Take you on an automated teleportation tour around your Minecraft world
- Build massive monuments, pyramids, forests, and more in a snap!
- Make secret passageways that open when you activate a hidden switch
- Create a spooky ghost town that vanishes and reappears elsewhere
- Show exactly where to dig for rare blocks
- Cast a spell so that a cascade of flowers (or dynamite if you’re daring!) follows your every move
- Make mischief with dastardly lava traps and watery curses that cause huge floods
“Think of it this way, Learn to Program with Minecraft is the ideal alternative to those cost-prohibitive coding camps,” says No Starch Press founder Bill Pollock. “Kids who read this book will pick up valuable programming skills and they won’t have to hide their favorite game behind a busy screen. No Starch Press will never be a billion dollar startup ‘unicorn,’ but we’ll still change the world by creating books that open doors for kids everywhere.”
The book retails for $29.95 and can be found at No Starch Press. The tutorials require Windows 7 or later, OS X 10.10 or later, or a Raspberry Pi. Specific system requirements can be found here.
Do you think Minecraft will be an effective tool to teach programming? Sound off in the comment section and let us know.
