This is why I’ve long argued that BASIC is the most consequential language in the history of computing. It’s a language for noobs, sure, but back then most everyone was a noob.

60 years ago, the inventors of the BASIC programming language actually achieved what they had hoped for: simple programming that is accessible to everyone.

For example, the first formal programming course I took (well, other than BASIC back in fourth grade) was Harvard's CS50, which you can take for free.