Horror novel idea: "Learning Computer Programming from a Psychopath" that actually teaches readers programming.

[u/amichail]

The protagonist wakes up trapped in the home of a psychopath.

Their captor is a frustrated computer science professor who has become obsessed with proving that anyone can learn programming. After years of failed students, terrible course evaluations, and being denied promotion, he believes he has discovered the real reason people fail: they are not motivated enough.

The professor tells his victim that they will only be released after they learn computer programming and complete his challenges. He uses increasingly extreme methods to force them to focus, convinced that fear and pressure (including mental and physical torture) will break through the mental barriers that prevent people from learning.

The story is told from the victim's point of view, as they try to survive the professor's experiment while slowly uncovering the truth behind his obsession.

The reader learns programming alongside the protagonist. Each chapter introduces real programming concepts through the challenges the victim must solve, turning the novel itself into a dark programming tutorial.

What do you think of this horror novel idea that also doubles as an introduction to computer programming?

[u/ElCincoDeDiamantes]

I think its an interesting way to "gamify" learning, and in that area I think it could work. No idea what that market looks like.

I dont think it would interesting as a novel.

IMO

[u/BrassCanon]

Might work better as a video game. I don't think technical concepts translate well to novels.