It's a very simple computer that can be used for many things. You need some basic programming skills to be able to do things with it. My kids have one hooked up to a 3d printer.

Do I need programming background or something like that? Or can I start from scratch

it's an extremely cheap and simple computer that is mainly used for teaching (because you can realistically afford to buy one for every student, and they're cheap to replace if they're lost or broken). They also have some applications in embedded systems demonstrators (you can strap a battery to the bottom and move it around easily).

I would think you could start for scratch. My kids know this stuff. But I don't really know how to code except in very basic ways.

There are plenty of guides to using it for different things. I was able to get it setup with emulators when I was a teen, I'm sure you could find a comprehensive guide to step you through anything you'd like to do.

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