Starting out.

[Ahmer]

Hi all!

I am a 15 year old High School Sophomore. I would like to start
programming in Python. In school, we are learning Java (5) and I like
to use the Eclipse IDE, I also am learning PHP as well.

What are some ways to get started (books, sites, etc.)? I am usually on
linux, but I have a windows box and am planning on getting a mac.

[Andrew Poelstra]

On Thu, 2006-10-12 at 16:37 -0700, Ahmer wrote:

Hi all!

I am a 15 year old High School Sophomore. I would like to start
programming in Python. In school, we are learning Java (5) and I like
to use the Eclipse IDE, I also am learning PHP as well.

What are some ways to get started (books, sites, etc.)? I am usually on
linux, but I have a windows box and am planning on getting a mac.

Start by learning two hours' worth of Java. Then you can blow off the
rest of the course, if your school's anything like mine.

I learned Python from "A Byte of Python". It was okay, although not very
refined last I checked. From there you just need to work on some random
projects, and you'll become more proficient.

(OT: Try to type 'proficient' with one hand on a US keyboard. :-))

--
Andrew Poelstra <http://www.wpsoftware.net/projects/>

[Richard Jones]

Andrew Poelstra wrote:

(OT: Try to type 'proficient' with one hand on a US keyboard. :-))

On the Internet, nobody wants to know when you're typing one-handed.
Richard

[hg]

Ahmer wrote:

Hi all!

I am a 15 year old High School Sophomore. I would like to start
programming in Python. In school, we are learning Java (5) and I like
to use the Eclipse IDE, I also am learning PHP as well.

What are some ways to get started (books, sites, etc.)? I am usually on
linux, but I have a windows box and am planning on getting a mac.

Eclipse does take time to get used to ... not sure you want to put this
between you and your learning Python ... you might want to assess a two
step process.

This is a very good introduction to python
(http://www.diveintopython.org/) ... and then there are a billion of
good books.

hg

[Tim Chase]

(OT: Try to type 'proficient' with one hand on a US keyboard. :-))

A number of nice words like that:

authenticity
proficiency
entitlement
enchantment
protozoans
proficient
antisocial
tutorials
tormentor
shanghais
shamrocks
rhapsodic
protozoan
pantheism
handiwork
flamencos
fishbowls
firmament
endowment
dyspeptic
dyspepsia
downturns
downright
divisible
disorient
dismantle
dirigible
cockfight
authentic
Try it yourself:

>>import re
r =

re.compile('^[yuiophjklnm]?([asdfgqwertzxcvb][yuiophjklnm])*[asdfgqwertzxcvb]?$')

>>for line in file('/usr/share/dict/words'):

.... line = line.strip()
.... if r.match(line): print line
....

which finds words that (on a QWERTY keyboard) are touch-typed
with alternating left/right hands.

In a fit of late-night boredom, I played with regexps that will
find words of the following classes of words (on a QWERTY keyboard):
typed with just the left-hand
'^[qwertasdfgzxcvb]*$'
typed with just the right-hand
'^[yuiophjklnm]*$'
typed with just the top-row of keys
'^[qwertyuiop]*$'
typed with just the home-row of keys
'^[asdfghjkl]*$'
typed with just the home-row keys
'^[asdfjkl]*$'
Beware...they're fun :)

-tkc

[Richard Jones]

Tim Chase wrote:

typed with just the top-row of keys
'^[qwertyuiop]*$'

The longest being "typewriter" :)

hey, look, it's Friday

[Paddy]

Ahmer wrote:

Hi all!

I am a 15 year old High School Sophomore. I would like to start
programming in Python. In school, we are learning Java (5) and I like
to use the Eclipse IDE, I also am learning PHP as well.

What are some ways to get started (books, sites, etc.)? I am usually on
linux, but I have a windows box and am planning on getting a mac.

Pydev gives you a Python mode for Eclipse:
http://pydev.sourceforge.net/
The Python tutorial is a good way to learn Python:
http://docs.python.org/tut/
Some pointers on writing Python for Java programmers:
http://www.ferg.org/projects/python_...e-by-side.html
I guess you are new to both Java and Python, but if you know Java and
were starting Python, the following points out that certain idioms of
Java do not translate well to Python:
http://dirtsimple.org/2004/12/python-is-not-java.html

And finally: Lets 'big-up' Python:
http://www.paulgraham.com/pypar.html

I hope you enjoy Python.
All the best, Paddy.
P.S. maybe your High school might be interested in teaching Python as a
first language rather than Java?
http://www.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly...kner_0300.html

http://www.python.org/workshops/2000...ner/pyYHS.html

[malkarouri]

Ahmer wrote:

Hi all!

I am a 15 year old High School Sophomore. I would like to start
programming in Python. In school, we are learning Java (5) and I like
to use the Eclipse IDE, I also am learning PHP as well.

What are some ways to get started (books, sites, etc.)? I am usually on
linux, but I have a windows box and am planning on getting a mac.

Generally good choices. I don't prefer PHP, however. For somebody who
is learning programming, it encourages sloppy programming.

I would suggest that you use PyDev (http://pydev.sourceforge.net/), a
Python plugin for Eclipse, for Python programming. It is a helpful
environment, especially for somebody already using Eclipse.

For resources, I suggest you take a look at
http://wiki.python.org/moin/Beginner...NonProgrammers which is for
non-programmers. If you feel like checking other resources, more are
linked to http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide .

Best luck,

k

[mensanator]

Richard Jones wrote:

Tim Chase wrote:

typed with just the top-row of keys
'^[qwertyuiop]*$'

The longest being "typewriter" :)

Maybe you should say "amongst the longest"

pepperwort
perpetuity
perruquier
pirouetter
proprietor
repertoire
typewriter

But even that would be wrong.

rupturewort

>
hey, look, it's Friday

[Ahmer]

Thanks Paddy. That post pretty much cleared up everything for me.

On Oct 13, 12:46 am, "Paddy" <[e-mail]:

Ahmer wrote:

Hi all!

I am a 15 year old High School Sophomore. I would like to start
programming in Python. In school, we are learning Java (5) and I like
to use the Eclipse IDE, I also am learning PHP as well.

What are some ways to get started (books, sites, etc.)? I am usually on
linux, but I have a windows box and am planning on getting a mac.Pydev gives you a Python mode for Eclipse:

http://pydev.sourceforge.net/
The Python tutorial is a good way to learn Python:
http://docs.python.org/tut/
Some pointers on writing Python for Java programmers:
http://www.ferg.org/projects/python_...e-by-side.html
I guess you are new to both Java and Python, but if you know Java and
were starting Python, the following points out that certain idioms of
Java do not translate well to Python:
http://dirtsimple.org/2004/12/python-is-not-java.html

And finally: Lets 'big-up' Python:
http://www.paulgraham.com/pypar.html

I hope you enjoy Python.
All the best, Paddy.

P.S. maybe your High school might be interested in teaching Python as a
first language rather than Java?
http://www.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly...kner_0300.html

http://www.python.org/workshops/2000...ers/elkner/pyY...

[Ahmer]

>From what I can see Python and PHP have VERY simillar syntax (sorry if
I offended anyone but I am a "n00b".)

On Oct 13, 12:54 am, [e-mail] wrote:

Ahmer wrote:

Hi all!

I am a 15 year old High School Sophomore. I would like to start
programming in Python. In school, we are learning Java (5) and I like
to use the Eclipse IDE, I also am learning PHP as well.

What are some ways to get started (books, sites, etc.)? I am usually on
linux, but I have a windows box and am planning on getting a mac.Generally good choices. I don't prefer PHP, however. For somebody who

is learning programming, it encourages sloppy programming.

I would suggest that you use PyDev (http://pydev.sourceforge.net/), a
Python plugin for Eclipse, for Python programming. It is a helpful
environment, especially for somebody already using Eclipse.

For resources, I suggest you take a look athttp://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammerswhich is for
non-programmers. If you feel like checking other resources, more are
linked tohttp://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide.

Best luck,

k

[Andrew Poelstra]

On Fri, 2006-10-13 at 07:26 -0700, Ahmer wrote:

From what I can see Python and PHP have VERY simillar syntax (sorry if
I offended anyone but I am a "n00b".)

Two things:
1) Don't toppost. Your response should go after or interspersed with
your quote, not above it.
2) You may be thinking of Perl, which has a very similar syntax to PHP.
In all the languages I've seen, Python is in a class of its own.

--
Andrew Poelstra <http://www.wpsoftware.net/projects/>

[Grant Edwards]

On 2006-10-13, Andrew Poelstra <ap*******@false.sitewrote:

On Fri, 2006-10-13 at 07:26 -0700, Ahmer wrote:

>From what I can see Python and PHP have VERY simillar syntax (sorry if
I offended anyone but I am a "n00b".)

2) You may be thinking of Perl, which has a very similar syntax to PHP.

Perl has syntax?

In all the languages I've seen, Python is in a class of its own.

--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! Hand me a pair of
at leather pants and a CASIO
visi.com keyboard -- I'm living
for today!

[Tim Chase]

Maybe you should say "amongst the longest"

>
pepperwort
perpetuity
perruquier
pirouetter
proprietor
repertoire
typewriter

But even that would be wrong.

rupturewort

>hey, look, it's Friday

proprietory
proterotype
rupturewort

according to my web2 list of words.

Hey, look, it's Friday, after 5:00pm! :)

-tkc

[mensanator]

Tim Chase wrote:

Maybe you should say "amongst the longest"

pepperwort
perpetuity
perruquier
pirouetter
proprietor
repertoire
typewriter

But even that would be wrong.

rupturewort

hey, look, it's Friday

proprietory
proterotype
rupturewort

according to my web2 list of words.

Hey, look, it's Friday, after 5:00pm! :)

Well, I'm on vacation this week, so 5 pm means nothing to me:

teetertotter

from the Consolidated Word List from puzzlers.org.

Yes, it's also spelled with a hyphen or a space, but as long as this
is a valid spelling, it counts.

I would recommend NOT looking this up, just take my word for it.
You may be offended at what you find.

>
-tkc

[Hendrik van Rooyen]

<me********@aol.comwrote:

8<------------------------

Well, I'm on vacation this week, so 5 pm means nothing to me:

teetertotter

from the Consolidated Word List from puzzlers.org.

Yes, it's also spelled with a hyphen or a space, but as long as this
is a valid spelling, it counts.

I would recommend NOT looking this up, just take my word for it.
You may be offended at what you find.

did not need to look it up - I know that teetertotter is a complicated word for
"see-saw".....

- Hendrik

[mensanator]

Hendrik van Rooyen wrote:

<me********@aol.comwrote:

8<------------------------

Well, I'm on vacation this week, so 5 pm means nothing to me:

teetertotter

from the Consolidated Word List from puzzlers.org.

Yes, it's also spelled with a hyphen or a space, but as long as this
is a valid spelling, it counts.

I would recommend NOT looking this up, just take my word for it.
You may be offended at what you find.

did not need to look it up - I know that teetertotter is a complicated word for
"see-saw".....

Uh...that means something else (according to the Urban Dictionary).

>
- Hendrik

[Fredrik Lundh]

me********@aol.com wrote:

(according to the Urban Dictionary).

talk about reliable sources...

</F>

[mensanator]

Fredrik Lundh wrote:

me********@aol.com wrote:

(according to the Urban Dictionary).

talk about reliable sources...

Well, as far as doing the research to prove them wrong,
I'll give it a miss.

>
</F>

[Bill Pursell]

Grant Edwards wrote:

>
Perl has syntax?

ROTFLMAO. In fact, that even motivated:

Psychotically Engineered Random Language.

--
Bill Pursell