Kids, Code, and Computer Science Magazine


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FTP is a mysterious yet extremely useful way to send data across computer networks. Here's a short overview with links.

To begin, FTP is short for File Transfer Protocol. The internet is made up of many protocols which are simply rules everyone agrees upon. Rules make it easy for computers to talk with each other across a network of computers connected to each other. Imagine if 10 people in a room spoke a different language. It would be hard to get anything done. But if all 10 people spoke Hungarian, or agreed to speak Hungarian, they could work together. Internet protocols work the same way.

What is FTP?

The file transfer protocol governs how data is sent over networks. FTP is a set of commands you can type into a command line interface tool like iTerm or use as you drag and drop files from your local computer to a remote computer with a more familiar software tool like Filezilla.

The most common use of FTP is to upload and download files used to build and maintain websites. When someone says, “I use FTP,” often they mean they use software that sends file transfer protocol commands between two computers connected to each other on a network. The FTP commands allow the person to manage files on their computer and the remote computer. The software they use is not FTP. The software is simply a tool, a way to send and receive FTP commands.




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Also In The November 2014 Issue

Find Summer Tech Camps

It's that time of year: time to start thinking of summer tech camps for 2015. Here are a few ideas where to begin looking.

Rachel Manning Talks Software Development and the Freelance Life


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Here are lots of ideas for computer science and programming toys kids might like, based on different age groups.

Create a Website with Wix is a free online tool you can use to create a website. Here's a basic tutorial to get started, as well as files to build a test site.

Chris Bradfield Talks Coding, Games, and Helping Kids Code

Chris talks about his journey from TRS-80 computers to websites to the game business to teaching kids to code in summer camp.

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Destinations and Systems

Designers of products, content, and software use the concepts of destinations and systems to create content and apps for all our devices.


November 2014 Learn More Links

Links from the bottom of all the November 2014 articles, collected in one place for you to print, share, or bookmark.

November 2014 News Wire

Interesting stories about computer science, software programming, and technology for October 2014.



Coding Books for Kids

No Starch Press sent along four books for kids. If you don't have them already, look them up at the library or buy online or in a bookstore.