In an introductory programming course, it is good practice to make use of a restricted and protected programming environment within which the pupils can develop their first programs. We will describe here Karel the Robot, a didactic aid based on
Its purpose is to confront a pupil with the essential ingredients of programming languages: actions, tests, control structures and refinements, without having to introduce such complicated concepts as variables, objects, values and types.
With the Elan Programming Environment, a standard packet for Karel the Robot is included.