Singapore - Nine-year-old writes iPhone code

**dirtydog** · 06-02-2009, 10:22 PM

Nine-year-old writes iPhone code

Lim Ding Wen started using a computer when he was aged two

A nine-year-old Malaysian boy in Singapore has written a painting application for the Apple iPhone.

Lim Ding Wen created the finger painting program, known as Doodle Kids, for his two younger sisters aged three and five.

The program allows iPhone owners to draw images on the handset's touch screen using just their fingers.

The program has been downloaded more than 4,000 times from Apple's iTunes store in less than two weeks.

While most children of his age are painting or drawing with crayons, Lim Ding Wen has been programming.

Lim, who is now fluent in six programming languages, first started using a computer when he was two-years-old, discovered programming aged seven, and has since completed more than 20 programming projects.

His latest application, Doodle Kids, allows users to draw pictures using their fingers and then clear the screen by shaking the iPhone.

"I wrote the program for my younger sisters, who like to draw," said Lim. "But I am happy that people like it."

Lim wrote the original application on his computer but has now adapted it for use on an iPhone.

He told The Electric New Paper in Singapore that he wrote the application in just a few days in Pascal.

Go on my son

Writing on his website, Lim's father - Lim Thye Chean - a chief technology officer at a local hi-tech firm, who also writes iPhone applications, was modest about his son's achievements.

"Ding Wen is an above average boy with an interest in computers, especially Apple IIGS and Macs, likes to do programming, and that's it.

"Doodle Kids is an extremely simple program that can be done by anybody. Everybody can program - if Ding Wen can, so can you," he wrote.

Lim Ding Wen is now working on a sci-fi game for the iPhone called Invader Wars and plans to join his school's robotics club.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Nine-year-old writes iPhone code

**Texpat** · 06-02-2009, 11:13 PM

show off

**NickA** · 06-02-2009, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

While most children of his age are painting or drawing with crayons, Lim Ding Wen has been programming.

Rubbish.

I was programming on a ZX specturm when I was 8 or 9 back in the stone age. There must be loads of kids programming at this age nowadays.

**melvbot** · 06-02-2009, 11:38 PM

If you had a ZX Spectrum or Vic 20 you had to do some programming, you couldnt avoid it. Good to see his dads playing it down, the kid might try to impress his dad and come up with something new.

bkkmadness · 06-02-2009, 11:42 PM

Well I remember copying and typing in programmes from magazines on the speccy but I wasn't writing my own programmes, that's quite a difference.

Used to take turns with my brother doing it, a page each. Only to end up with some god awful basic game that we only played once.

**dirtydog** · 06-02-2009, 11:45 PM

I used to do my own coding on my zx81, I even started started to build a monopoly game on it, it took a couple of days to realise that it just weren't gonna fit on that little toy

**NickA** · 07-02-2009, 12:06 AM

^Yes, grandad

**slimboyfat** · 07-02-2009, 12:17 AM

10 print "dirtydog sucks cock"
20 goto 10

**jizzybloke** · 07-02-2009, 12:27 AM

^i remember that

**dirtydog** · 07-02-2009, 12:38 AM

^fills the screen. non ending loop.

**jizzybloke** · 07-02-2009, 12:55 AM

can't remember anything else though

**Scandinavian** · 07-02-2009, 06:47 AM

There has been a Commodore 64 emulator for the Nokia smartphones out there a while now, you can do all you could on the 64, and a lot faster with the phone. Its nice to fresh up on the programming skills while in the subway...

**The Fresh Prince** · 07-02-2009, 07:55 AM

Thats nothing! I remember programming my Spectrum 48k Ram for nearly 3 weeks and I got a picture of a Union Jack that did nothing at all. The next piece of software genius I created was a block that moved round the screen! Again achieving fuck all!!!!

**lom** · 07-02-2009, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by NickA

I was programming on a ZX specturm when I was 8 or 9 back in the stone age.

There weren't any ZX81 in the stone age NickA, not even pocket calculators, this is what we used the slide ruler.

My favourite was the one above but I also had a longer one for higher precision and a round one with all kind of conversion scales.

**Gerbil** · 07-02-2009, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by lom

Originally Posted by NickA

I was programming on a ZX specturm when I was 8 or 9 back in the stone age.

There weren't any ZX81 in the stone age NickA, not even pocket calculators, this is what we used the slide ruler.

My favourite was the one above but I also had a longer one for higher precision and a round one with all kind of conversion scales.

We weren't allowed those. Had to use a book of log tables

**kingwilly** · 07-02-2009, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by slimboyfat

10 print "dirtydog sucks cock" 20 goto 10

damn, i thought i had copyright on that program!

Originally Posted by jizzybloke

^i remember that

me too!

the article hints that Dad helps.........

**NickA** · 07-02-2009, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by slimboyfat

10 print "dirtydog sucks cock" 20 goto 10

I ran that program last night, but it appears to have crashed

**Lily** · 07-02-2009, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Writing on his website, Lim's father - Lim Thye Chean - a chief technology officer at a local hi-tech firm, who also writes iPhone applications, was modest about his son's achievements. "Ding Wen is an above average boy with an interest in computers, especially Apple IIGS and Macs, likes to do programming, and that's it. "Doodle Kids is an extremely simple program that can be done by anybody. Everybody can program - if Ding Wen can, so can you," he wrote. Lim Ding Wen is now working on a sci-fi game for the iPhone called Invader Wars

I dont believe a word of it. His father, the technology officer has done the work and it is a good marketing ploy to claim a nine year old did it.

**lom** · 07-02-2009, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by Gerbil

We weren't allowed those. Had to use a book of log tables

Yepp, book of log tables when doing tests.
But allowed during normal maths lessons.

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