5 ms·

So, is it good or not? :D

by napolux 12y ago

SpaceInvader 12y ago
For beginner it's pretty decent. I enjoyed it few years ago (probably that was some older revision).
dagw 12y ago
If you're new to programming, it's pretty good. If you're an experienced programmer looking to pick up python, then it is very slow going and takes a while before it gets anywhere interesting. Basically it should really be called Learn Programming The Hard Way Using Python
- M8 12y ago
  But then it will be confusing, people will assume that scripting is the same thing as programming.
  - dagw 12y ago
    In what way does LPtHW not teach programming in your mind?
  - toolz 12y ago
    Probably because scripting is programming.
- collyw 12y ago
  I used to find Dive into Python a good resource when I was moving from Perl to Python.
  - dagw 12y ago
    I used The Quick Python Book when making the same transition years ago and thought it did a good job.
- awalGarg 12y ago
  Also look at http://learnxinyminutes.com http://learnxinyminutes.com if you are already a programmer.
- napolux 12y ago
  Ok, thanks!
- zedshaw 12y ago
  Yep, this is exactly right, although I'd say it almost totally teaches programming. The book definitely teaches computational thinking and gets people over that hump and into finally learning programming, but I need to work on a follow-up book that has a lot of projects for people to tackle on their own. That's really where they finally learn to code as an independent programmer.
- wyclif 12y ago
  But here's the thing: LPTHW isn't meant for "experienced programmers", it's for raw beginners who have never written a single line of code before. Zed explains this over and over again in the intro to the book.
omegant 12y ago
As a raw beginner that tried this book as the first I'll say that it's frustrating to try to learn with it. It explains something pretty well and then suddenly there is a big knowledge jump that you must fill looking at internet (I had to check the python documentation several times to understand what was happening at some examples). I started looking at other books and found "Learn python programming arcade games with pygame"by Paul Cramel, who is teaching his own book at an university course. For me it's sooo much clear, taking you step by step through the difficult concepts (hand holding if you wish), that suddenly are not that difficult. It contains lots of simple exercises and questionnaires that make sure that you understand the concepts in the lesson. Each lesson has also it's own Lab, that gives you the specs and making you use the lesson material to code on your own. I find this to be the perfect way to fix the ideas in a practical way. I don´t know enough to create my own exercises' specs being a complete newbie. Of course making games and moving drawings is hands down much fun than writing command line scripts. It only has a small problem, you need to install pygame's libraries, which can be a bit difficult in mac. I had to do several tries with snow leopard, Finally I installed the latest Mac OS and it installed without problems. I'm recommending it to every body who asks me. It's free in his site and the e-book(that I bought) it's inexpensive. I´m sure LEARN PYTHON THE HARD WAY is and will be useful to a lot of people, and don´t mean to disrespect the author effort in helping people learn programming, but I thought worth giving an alternative in case you are looking for one. I´m not related in any way to Mr. Cramel, I just happen to find his book very useful.

So, is it good or not? :D

by napolux 12y ago

So, is it good or not? :D

SpaceInvader 12y ago

For beginner it's pretty decent. I enjoyed it few years ago (probably that was some older revision).

dagw 12y ago

If you're new to programming, it's pretty good. If you're an experienced programmer looking to pick up python, then it is very slow going and takes a while before it gets anywhere interesting. Basically it should really be called Learn Programming The Hard Way Using Python

M8 12y ago
But then it will be confusing, people will assume that scripting is the same thing as programming.
- dagw 12y ago
  In what way does LPtHW not teach programming in your mind?
- toolz 12y ago
  Probably because scripting is programming.
collyw 12y ago
I used to find Dive into Python a good resource when I was moving from Perl to Python.
- dagw 12y ago
  I used The Quick Python Book when making the same transition years ago and thought it did a good job.
awalGarg 12y ago
Also look at http://learnxinyminutes.com http://learnxinyminutes.com if you are already a programmer.
napolux 12y ago
Ok, thanks!
zedshaw 12y ago
Yep, this is exactly right, although I'd say it almost totally teaches programming. The book definitely teaches computational thinking and gets people over that hump and into finally learning programming, but I need to work on a follow-up book that has a lot of projects for people to tackle on their own. That's really where they finally learn to code as an independent programmer.
wyclif 12y ago
But here's the thing: LPTHW isn't meant for "experienced programmers", it's for raw beginners who have never written a single line of code before. Zed explains this over and over again in the intro to the book.

omegant 12y ago

As a raw beginner that tried this book as the first I'll say that it's frustrating to try to learn with it. It explains something pretty well and then suddenly there is a big knowledge jump that you must fill looking at internet (I had to check the python documentation several times to understand what was happening at some examples). I started looking at other books and found "Learn python programming arcade games with pygame"by Paul Cramel, who is teaching his own book at an university course. For me it's sooo much clear, taking you step by step through the difficult concepts (hand holding if you wish), that suddenly are not that difficult. It contains lots of simple exercises and questionnaires that make sure that you understand the concepts in the lesson. Each lesson has also it's own Lab, that gives you the specs and making you use the lesson material to code on your own. I find this to be the perfect way to fix the ideas in a practical way. I don´t know enough to create my own exercises' specs being a complete newbie. Of course making games and moving drawings is hands down much fun than writing command line scripts. It only has a small problem, you need to install pygame's libraries, which can be a bit difficult in mac. I had to do several tries with snow leopard, Finally I installed the latest Mac OS and it installed without problems. I'm recommending it to every body who asks me. It's free in his site and the e-book(that I bought) it's inexpensive. I´m sure LEARN PYTHON THE HARD WAY is and will be useful to a lot of people, and don´t mean to disrespect the author effort in helping people learn programming, but I thought worth giving an alternative in case you are looking for one. I´m not related in any way to Mr. Cramel, I just happen to find his book very useful.