learn python

The reason for my coming to python is bash. I liked the idea of automating repetitive tasks using bash. I was new to Linux command line and its power looked awesome, still does. well, bash is cryptic and I couldn’t remember its weird syntax. I wrote a very basic script in Python one day that found, shrank and cleaned up video files on my hard disk and it was so elegant. So, i decided to dig it deeper and got into Oreilly’s Learning Python.

do want

I used to be a software developer using C and Clarion (in DOS days) and Delphi. Over the years I have progressed and now lead a team of developers. They now develop in C#.NET. I haven’t written any code properly since 2000 and miss it. So I want to learn something again and Python appeals

There has been a lot of buzz around using python, that it is simple, intuitive, powerful. Can be used for scripting, object oriented programming, web application development and what not. I want to give my shot at this.

I started learning Python yesterday. I’ve got a lot to go, but one thing that helped me start out is a learning environment and tutorial called RUR-PLE that is for non-programmers because I’ve never programmed anything before. It’s a lot of fun to try to solve the challenges. I’m not sure what I will move onto next. Maybe I will try to program my own game or something.

and seeing the beauty in it – iterating in Python is so elegant. I’m now past the stage where every third line of code has an annoying bug, and getting more familiar with it. So many shortcuts and idioms. Anyway, it’s going well, and I’m building a program that showcases Python demos and exercises as practice – having rewritten the code many, many times, each time incorporating something new I’d just learnt or adding a new feature or …refactoring, I think it’s called? I do wonder if I can learn all the Computer Science stuff people learn in university online. Algorithms and linked lists and binary trees and such. Those come later though – after I have the basics down.

Unfortunately I stopped it again. :-(

But I am restarting again. :-D

It’s going well – but there’s a vast amount to learn. Have been working through online tutorials, but found it’s not the best way for me to learn – I need to learn by doing. So after skimming through some of the tutorials to let my brain absorb some of the very basics, I’ve been coming up with ideas for small doable projects and trying to make them happen. Not easy by any means, and I’m still having to look up everything, but I’m learning, and xcited by what I can do with it – I already have big project ideas in mind for it :) But I’ve been rushing myself a bit, as I’d like to have enough knowledge and experience with Python to be able to put it on my CV – from what I’ve seen, jobs with Python pay well, and while I believe it’s only going to become more popular, especially with the backing of Google, there aren’t yet as many people who know it as say, PHP. The medium-term plan would be to familiarise myself with it as much as possible, then contribute to open-source projects while building my own programs. I’m enjoying learning a little of it every day – I only wish it could happen faster :)

I want to get better at my job by learning Python

I’m trying to learn web development and rather than starting with php I’ve heard python might be a better place to start because of its reinforcement of good programming habits/skills. Though I know php is a great language I’ve heard that for those who are learning it may be too easy to do things the wrong way and still get the right result.