Slashdot Mirror

Agreed. If you've never done any programming before, I recommend starting with Learn Python the Hard Way

Seriously? I hated Why's Guide... it was stupid. I'm sorry. Just get to the point.

As someone not interested in learning Ruby I actually enjoyed reading Why's Guide. It's very creative and clever and fun. Why clearly has a talent for creative writing (and for drawing cute little foxes).

That said, would I use it as a way to really learn how to program in Ruby? Absolutely not. I'd much rather have something closer to an O'Reilly animal book, or Learn Python the Hard Way.

Lua's reference guide is great, but I prefer a bit more than just a language's grammar since part of learning a new language is understanding its "why" and "how" as well as the "what" (for me, at least).

If you go that route, I like Learn Python the Hard Way. I used it to learn Python from my Java background, but it's also great for those that have never programmed in their life. The basic programming structures (loops, conditions, classes, etc) are all covered and can be transferred to other languages, and it's not too strenuous despite its name (while still learning stuff, of course). Everything is very well narrated.

Given your requirements of spending an hour a day for the year and learning over that time, I suggest checking out Learn Python the Hard Way. I reviewed it briefly after being pointed that way in a previous slashdot article (about teaching kids programming), and it has basic lessons, strung together over time into more and more complicated exercises. They have a Ruby, C, SQL, and other tidbits available as well, if Python doesn't seem like your kind of thing.

Cheers,
Andrew

Give Learn python the hard way a go: http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/

It is a collection of small exercises that build your knowledge and confidence with python, and you can ask the author questions on each page as you progress.

If you're looking to learn something new and general purpose, Python has a combination of decent docs (you can start with http://www.python.org/doc/ , http://pleac.sourceforge.net/pleac_python/ , and http://www.lightbird.net/py-by-example/ ), good libraries (see http://pypi.python.org/pypi and https://github.com/languages/Python/most_watched ) and all-around flexibility (all the regular system stuff, lots of microframeworks for web, scientific computing tools, 2d+3d graphics).

You may want to take a look at IPython ( http://ipython.org/ ), Reinteract ( http://fishsoup.net/software/reinteract/ ), and DreamPie ( http://dreampie.sourceforge.net/ ) for some interactive shells/interpreters to play around with. I use vim for programming, but there are a number of IDEs. Of the ones I've tried, I thought IEP offered the most interesting tools: http://code.google.com/p/iep/

Probably the fastest/easiest way to learn (and learn if you like) Python is to go through Zed Shaw's book/exercises: http://learnpythonthehardway.org/
There's a lot of other stuff on the Python wiki: http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Programmers

Slashdot definitely isn't what it used to be. For programming questions you may want to look at Stack Overflow or Quora. For general nerdly news, I find Hacker News, Techmeme, and The Verge tends to cover my bases better these days.

I quite enjoyed Learn Python the Hard Way from Zed A. Shaw.

Learn Python The Hard Way.

I highly recommend "Learn Python the Hard Way". Best of all, the online HTML version is free! (as in beer) http://learnpythonthehardway.org/

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/

Don't think this is a neutral point of view. Dive into Python tends to come up before Learn Python the Hard Way in most searches, and I think that could have something to do with that opinion.

I've used both, and in my opinion, both have a strong case for existence.

I'm 27, and I just started learning Python (via http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/). It took me 2 days to get the feel of it. So, I'd say you're never too old. If you know the basic concepts of programming (which you obviously do) then you can pick up a new language's syntax & nuances pretty quick.

Neither:

If a programmer tells you to use vim or emacs, tell them, "No." These editors are for when you are a better programmer. All you need right now is an editor that lets you put text into a file. We will use gedit because it is simple and the same on all computers.

Cited from http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/ex50.html :
"Other Python programmers will warn you that lpthw.web is just a fork of another web framework called web.py, and that web.py has too much "magic". If they say this, point out to them that Google App Engine originally used web.py and not a single Python programmer complained that it had too much magic, because they all worked at Google. If it's good enough for Google, then it's good enough for you to get started. Then, just get back to learning to code and ignore their goal of indoctrination over education."

Hmmm... I remember times when Guido v.Rossum, Tim Peters and others were working at a company called BeOpen.com ... may this shows my age.

Learn Python "the Hard Way" to me implies an advanced book. It seems they meant "Learn Basic Python Well". I kind of prefer this title, too--it's much friendlier for the apparent target audience, even if it's not as catchy.

Agreed. I suggest Python to any aspiring programmer who asks me.
Here's a great place to start.
And another good one.

I am teaching a friend the basics of programming, and Python is what I have chosen. Books such as Learn Python the Hard Way [found its ref on StackOverflow, and liked it] are very good for someone who wants to learn programming on their own time.

That said, I think a lesson in the basics of flowcharting (inputs, outputs, conditionals, loops using counters and conditionals) goes a long way to prepare the student for programming languages.

HTML/CSS+JS is relevant given

• how many apps are web apps now, and the developer will likely need to work on it anyway
• Writing short snippets of markup + code can give some very instant gratification

The above is from feedback from my friend. YMMV.

-A