Provide a persistent data storage mechanism for programs

No. People would make viruses that fill up all your memory

I think some sort of storage system that is per-program should be implemented, but not in the way local storage is. If something like local storage was implemented on a per-program level rather than per-user, I could see many people just editing the code and inserting "not good" things into the storage. I definitely think a storage system of some sort should be implemented, but it would have to be implemented smartly so that it wouldn't be easily abused. Possibly allow the only one able to edit storage code, the creator of the program?

As important as data is in software development, this should definitely be on the to-do list.

That would be cool, also could you take away the 16 hour wait to level up a skill, also could you make science, history, ect. big and have masteries like math

I think this is a bad idea, as it conflicts with other programs. Before you look at it and just think "wow that would be cool" you have to look at the harm it can do. Like marketmom100 said, viruses can be created causing horrible outcomes. Viruses are already being used in the programs, and I don't think its wise that we implement this.

I'm not too sure how storage manipulation in js work, but i have seen some in c. I propose a rather basic storage system consisting of functions:

save(data);
You can have data in a string format and it would output as code like if you used println(); or you can just use a function. The contents should be taken out and considered plain code as well.

This function allows data to be saved and appear in the users program list along with "Save of 'Program Name'".

Also do have an appropriate pop up message like "Would you like to save this data." and allow the user to create a suitable name.

And have an error for any instance a save message appears more than twice and probably an instant flagging if you can so pesky coders who thinks this'll be funny:
for (var x=0; x<1000; x++){
save (trollFile);
}
don't get that satisfaction.

load();
This simply executes the statements contained in an already decided saved file (by selection from users Creations list).

loadList();
This returns a list of files the user can load from their program list in a string format or array (whichever suits better).

i.e text (loadList(), 20,20);

may return

"Serillian Falls\nMayar Hills\nRuin Valley\nRoyal Castle\nSave10225"

And if you also bring in links you could probably do more with loadList than simply return text.

And marketmorn and Kaitlin, no worries, I don't think they could do that like this, after all my (rather ambitious) idea for load() also means you're using direct code so good ol' pal oh Noes would still be watching out for it's every flaw.

So you've made it to the end, hope I didn't bore you too much :)

I think it is a great idea, but going along with previous ideas in this discussion, there should be guidelines, such as a pop up asking to save that small bit of data to the computer. As long as there are rules in place, go right ahead!

I think you should do it but in a way that people can save what they want in the original program or the author to be a able to choose specific profiles to save their work in the specific and original program. That would be really helpful for two people to work on a program without having to give their account.

Storing data about young users could get into privacy and even legal issues. I don't know where the line is... storing someone's play level? Probably OK. Favorite color? Country they live in? State? City? Full name and address...? At some point there's a problem. I don't know how to solve that problem, especially since privacy laws vary between jurisdictions and are pretty strict in Europe.

As a game designer, I'd like to be able to see the user's KA ID within the program, and store persistent data about their game state.

As KA dealing with potentially malicious programmers, or even non-malicious programmers who aren't fully aware or careful of privacy laws, this looks like it could be a giant can of worms.

A possible work-around is to have a SAVE button that prints a magic string to the console, which the user can then re-enter to recover their state. This way, KA isn't storing any data, but the user can still get back to where they were.

Blocks of text can be copied from the console, but I don't know of a way to paste a block of text into a program's user interface. If there isn't one, then the magic string would have to be quite small - which further reduces the possibility for mischief (but also the usability of the program).

Access to server-based storage would add much functionality to game programs and much expand the quality of khan academy js programs. I do not think localStorage should be allowed but it should be possible to store user-specific data on a khan academy data server based on the users khan academy account. This way the level could be linked to their account. localStorage is too big of a concern for me because of recent security flaws like shellshock and javaworm.

This is a bad idea. People will be able to make viruses that ruin the memory. And Javascript doesn't have any other method. However, there are ways to work around the whole virus stuff.

Khan Academy, please respond to this feature request. This post has been here for two years (and more on the old feedback site) with no response whatsoever.

Here's my suggestion for implementation:

function saveLocalData(data: String, location: String)
This function saves data locally (indexed by location).
function loadLocalData(location: String)
This function loads data locally.
function saveGlobalData(data: String, location: String)
This function saves data globally.
A note: this method would only be usable by the original code of the program. No edited versions of the code would actually save to the global data for the program (to prevent high score cheating, etc.).
function loadGlobalData(location: String)
This function loads data globally.
function clearLocalData()
function clearGlobalData()

Also, both local and global data storage would be restricted - only relatively small amounts of data could be stored.

This would definitely be an excellent idea that I think could influence how many programs on khanacademy work and function. To be able to do this would definitely make khan a better place to learn and program using JS.

Yes, please, a small amount of storage for settings, as in a cookie, would be helpful.  And a larger amount of storage for images, puzzles, and other data that the user wants to save would be great.  I have a program that creates mazes.  I would be nice to be able to allow the user to save their favorites and then recall them from a list.  Any drawing program would benefit in the same way.  A single file on the user's system could be used for each program that needed the feature and the user would be asked when a program wishes to create or expand the file.  This would be very useful.

Yes, but to avoid trolls you could add a notification that says "Allow storage management? [YES] [NO]"

If you disallow it, it cannot write files to storage, but it can read them

If you allow it, it can write files to storage AND read them!

(also maybe a data cap to what can be written to prevent it even further[something like 5 MB should be more than plenty])

Yes, please. I sometimes reload programs on accident and I lose data. I'm making a program that needs localStorage, make it so that it requires people to accept saving data in localStorage, and that people have a certain limit of bytes of saving data.

This is needed, but what if someone edits the program and runs it, before spinning off - it needs to have limited storage, and only the author's code should be allowed to access its storage, which means, if an unsaved edit by another user accesses memory, don't let it run until it's been saved as a spin off.

     this is a bad idea because Khan Academy is about learning, not to be a place like YouTube where people say things like "LEAVE A LIKE", or "SUBSCRIBE," but programmers treat it that way, trying to make things that technically don't go against the guidelines. local storage is an example. everything is not supposed to be about having high-scores, it's about learning to program for a job, or teach others how to program. some people said that SQL has no purpose. well, it's preparing you for when you use it for a purpose. it is highly important.

also, I've noticed people here down voted anyone who said no to this, even if they didn't read it. make sure you read this.

I think it would be a great idea with a few restrictions to keep it from being hacked.

1. Only saves if the program code has not been modified.
2. Is limited to some amount of space (i.e. 128KB)

I think it would also be a good idea to make it a simple function call:

save(name, value);

var variable = load(name);

Great idea!

D Bear -  Or better - just make it a directly accessible object:

localStorage.score = 10;

println(localStorage.score);

delete localStorage.score;

marketmom100 - Making a limit of 16 KB or similar would prevent the creation of viruses.

I'm making a game that would require the player to play for a couple of hours, I think there should be a specific area to play and develop, where you can add a local storage, making it that a person is not downloading a saved area bu the code would just run the data that was saved