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Step 1. Buy whichever 'Learn Python' book you like the look of. Read book, while hacking up little programs to amuse yourself and solve your problems Step 2. R

by dood 19y ago

Step 1. Buy whichever 'Learn Python' book you like the look of. Read book, while hacking up little programs to amuse yourself and solve your problems Step 2. Read some tutorials on the net to expand your knowledge. Investigate open source programs like BeautifulSoup. Use open source stuff to build toy programs with (e.g. RSS reader or screenscraper). Step 3. Implement a project of moderate complexity, while reading more advanced books, and browsing Python blogs to get a broader understanding of how things work. I assume this process would work for Ruby or PHP, but I think Python is the perfect language for learners.

Shooter 19y ago
I actually get asked this question quite a bit, and I'd like to be able to offer a more informed answer. Depending on the specific interests of the person that asks, I usually always recommend Python or Scheme and the standard list of starting books. I learned Scheme first, but I think Python is an equally great starting language. In fact, I would be very curious to hear everyone's opinions on Python vs. Scheme as a starting language...preferably without having your standard language flamewar. I know about the MIT switch to the Zelle book and their reasoning. What are some other pros and cons? I still lean towards Scheme a bit, because I think the functional approach to problem-solving can be more powerful...at least it was more eye-opening to me. (But, then, I'm not a person that was especially gifted at mathematics.) Ideas?
- dood 19y ago
  I've hardly looked at Scheme as I came to programming with an unacademic get-stuff-done attitude. Which probably explains why I find Python so appealing, and why I recommend it to others who want to learn a language to use as a tool: it is immediately useful, fairly user-friendly, teaches good mental habits, has abudant tutorials and soforth, a large helpful community, and lots of active hackers hacking away and sharing their ideas.
- euccastro 19y ago
  It's a good question, and one that comes to mind every now and then. I guess it depends on the attitude of the learner- to be more precise, on their ambition, curiosity, and patience. If someone just wants to see results ASAP, if they see programming as some annoyance to get out of the way in order to get stuff done, give them Python (as a bonus, it may change their minds and get them in love with programming). For those with more curiosity, who want to get a deep understanding of things in general, or for those with a deeper interest in programming in particular, I would try Scheme first. This is not to say that Python and Scheme are opposite extremes in terms of practicality and ability to enlighten. Both languages are pretty good at both IMO. You can't go very wrong with either.

by dood 19y ago

Shooter 19y ago

I actually get asked this question quite a bit, and I'd like to be able to offer a more informed answer. Depending on the specific interests of the person that asks, I usually always recommend Python or Scheme and the standard list of starting books. I learned Scheme first, but I think Python is an equally great starting language. In fact, I would be very curious to hear everyone's opinions on Python vs. Scheme as a starting language...preferably without having your standard language flamewar. I know about the MIT switch to the Zelle book and their reasoning. What are some other pros and cons? I still lean towards Scheme a bit, because I think the functional approach to problem-solving can be more powerful...at least it was more eye-opening to me. (But, then, I'm not a person that was especially gifted at mathematics.) Ideas?

dood 19y ago
I've hardly looked at Scheme as I came to programming with an unacademic get-stuff-done attitude. Which probably explains why I find Python so appealing, and why I recommend it to others who want to learn a language to use as a tool: it is immediately useful, fairly user-friendly, teaches good mental habits, has abudant tutorials and soforth, a large helpful community, and lots of active hackers hacking away and sharing their ideas.
euccastro 19y ago
It's a good question, and one that comes to mind every now and then. I guess it depends on the attitude of the learner- to be more precise, on their ambition, curiosity, and patience. If someone just wants to see results ASAP, if they see programming as some annoyance to get out of the way in order to get stuff done, give them Python (as a bonus, it may change their minds and get them in love with programming). For those with more curiosity, who want to get a deep understanding of things in general, or for those with a deeper interest in programming in particular, I would try Scheme first. This is not to say that Python and Scheme are opposite extremes in terms of practicality and ability to enlighten. Both languages are pretty good at both IMO. You can't go very wrong with either.