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Programming and all of its related tools are best learnt out of necessity. I started to use Python for its original purpose: as a "better shell script". I've ne

Programming and all of its related tools are best learnt out of necessity. I started to use Python for its original purpose: as a "better shell script". I've never succesfully learnt anything just for the sake of it. It's always been because I had a problem I wanted to solve with it. Learning general purpose languages like Python or C would be great if she actually has any interest in computing. Has she ever expressed any interest in this? Does she do anything with a computer where a tool would help her? If not, and she still thinks she wants to learn, then I suggest going the web route. Making your own website has a very nice learning curve. Learn about HTML and what it means to "mark up" a document. Learn CSS to make it look nice. Learn Javascript to make it interactive. Learn Python/Django to make the content database driven. It's very easy to see the appeal of each new skill and nothing seems like learning something "just because".

dotdi 9y ago
I completely agree with your comment. What I want to achieve is to create a path for her that maximizes her ROI (i.e. the time and effort she invests). In this context, that would mean to find the necessity as well as guiding her toward the goal while making sure she goes through the right struggles and avoid big time-sinks that don't provide much value. Having two kids creates the necessity to be smart about approaching projects, especially as big as this.
- cup-of-tea 9y ago
  I think the web route is the way to go. HTML will offer that initial struggle of making sure the syntax is perfect for the computer to understand. This is a struggle that experienced programmers (including me) tend to forget. Maybe she can write her own blog? It's very achievable. Doesn't really need javascript, though, so maybe straight from CSS to Django? Good luck! I've been teaching my wife Python (she's already got some scripting experience in bash). It's a good learning experience for you too. I find where she is really lacking is seeing the "big picture". She can't think several moves ahead. So she'll never be a great programmer, but hopefully it will help her day to day at work.

dotdi 9y ago

I completely agree with your comment. What I want to achieve is to create a path for her that maximizes her ROI (i.e. the time and effort she invests). In this context, that would mean to find the necessity as well as guiding her toward the goal while making sure she goes through the right struggles and avoid big time-sinks that don't provide much value. Having two kids creates the necessity to be smart about approaching projects, especially as big as this.

cup-of-tea 9y ago
I think the web route is the way to go. HTML will offer that initial struggle of making sure the syntax is perfect for the computer to understand. This is a struggle that experienced programmers (including me) tend to forget. Maybe she can write her own blog? It's very achievable. Doesn't really need javascript, though, so maybe straight from CSS to Django? Good luck! I've been teaching my wife Python (she's already got some scripting experience in bash). It's a good learning experience for you too. I find where she is really lacking is seeing the "big picture". She can't think several moves ahead. So she'll never be a great programmer, but hopefully it will help her day to day at work.