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Think Python

Posted by michael on from the because-thinking-perl-hurts-too-much dept.

An anonymous reader writes "In a neverending effort to spread the word about free quality online programming books, here is a Python programming book. 'How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Learning With Python', by Allen B. Downey, Chris Meyers, and Jeffrey Elkner is a copylefted work available in multiple formats at Green Tea Press: HTML , PDF, LaTeX. Compliments of the online books what's new page."

1 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Re:C is a high-level language?? by gaj · · Score: 1, Flamebait
    C, a language without file i/o, without bound checking, and with direct access to ports is high-level? If you say the libraries chucked into a C load makes it so... Then Assemebler is a high-level language, too.
    No. C is an HLL because the expression of concepts is above the machine level. Oh wait, that must be wrong, as you define for us exactly what makes a language HLL vs. LLL. Hmm ... so file i/o and bounds checking make for an HLL, but "direct access to ports" (by which I assume you mean "direct, arbitrary access to memory" ... please say what you mean) makes for an LLL? OK, lets then look at your supposed spectrum of languages:
    Last I heard was Binary Code=0, Assem=1, C=1.5, Fortran, Cobol, & Basic were about 3, ADA, C++=5.
    First of all, BASIC (not Basic; it is an acronym for Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code ... I should have "stopped reading your post right there, because how can you teach me the levels of languages when you do not know bout the basics of computer sceince? [sic]"), Ada and C++ all have "direct access to ports", so they must be low level. And C++ has no file i/o withough libraries, so it must really be low level. WTF? Don't you "know about the basics of computer sceince [sic]"?
    Perl was not even in the picture, because it was scripting language
    Ok, so enlighten me: WTF is the definition of "scripting language" and how does it differ from a general purpose programming language and how is it that Perl fits into the former catagory rather than the latter? You are obviously god-like in your grasp of "computer sceince [sic]", so I really look forward to learning from you.

    Or something.

    I probably have just been trolled, but I meet so many people that sound just like you and really have given that little thought to the subject. I'm sure that my pathetic little mind, having the small grasp of "computer sceince [sic]", simply couldn't comprehend your post.