Countless computer programming students have learned rudimentary skills by moving a “turtle” around a screen using a programming environment called Logo. Now Otherwise has adapted the concept for Java and released Jurtle, available for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux and other Unix environments.
Jurtle, developed as a teaching aid for an 8th grade programming class, helps high schoolers, junior high schoolers and others get down the basics of Java. With Jurtle, you learn to program by writing code that moves a turtle on the screen.
Jurtle can also be used to create complete Java applications with their own user interfaces. It includes example programs and 16 lessons to introduce users to the basics.
Jurtle runs unlicensed for 15 minutes per session. A license costs US$15.