newbie - starting first proggie

[karokat]

Hi, I want to learn how to program and python seems to be the most intuitive language according to various internet sources - but I'm not sure if it's best for newbies... please advise..

Anyway, my first project I would like to make is a simple proggie - a simple note 'library', with basic formattable text, to store, edit and access my notes. Express Notes is the prog I currently use but there's things in it I want to customise to my personal needs and this seems good place to start
(http://www.nch.com.au/notes/index.html)

Having read and worked through basic examples in a couple of absolute beginner Python tuts, the language seems quite 'handleable' for a newbie. But I'm missing the initial building bricks and have no idea where to start. I've tried looking for similar apps in the recipes and cookbook but no luck so far.

(A long while ago I was playing around with Delphi, loved the form interface that let me plan visually, maybe this type of programming would be better for a total beginner who needs maximum help?)

I would be very grateful if someone could point me in the right direction, maybe you know of or have written a similar app in python that I could learn from.

Thx in advance!
ps. OS Win XP Pro SP2, Python 2.5.1

[bartonc]

Hi, I want to learn how to program and python seems to be the most intuitive language according to various internet sources - but I'm not sure if it's best for newbies... please advise..

Anyway, my first project I would like to make is a simple proggie - a simple note 'library', with basic formattable text, to store, edit and access my notes. Express Notes is the prog I currently use but there's things in it I want to customise to my personal needs and this seems good place to start
(http://www.nch.com.au/notes/index.html)

Having read and worked through basic examples in a couple of absolute beginner Python tuts, the language seems quite 'handleable' for a newbie. But I'm missing the initial building bricks and have no idea where to start. I've tried looking for similar apps in the recipes and cookbook but no luck so far.

(A long while ago I was playing around with Delphi, loved the form interface that let me plan visually, maybe this type of programming would be better for a total beginner who needs maximum help?)

I would be very grateful if someone could point me in the right direction, maybe you know of or have written a similar app in python that I could learn from.

Thx in advance!
ps. OS Win XP Pro SP2, Python 2.5.1

I believe that Python is best for newbies. Jumping into GUI programming in any language is a big leap, but Python has managed to simplify the object classes enough the beginners can grasp it quite quickly. Although Tkinter is very limited, it is perfect for exploring GUI class objects and getting something working without too much investment (time-wise - all is free in the python world, of course). Once your UI needs advance to such things as StyledTextControl you'll want a more full-blown Gui ToolKit like wxPython (my favorite).

Check out the Articles sections for links to various IDEs and ToolKits.
Have fun!!! And thanks for joining,
Barton

[karokat]

Thanks Barton - took me a while to find Tkinter but gottit now and am plodding thru the tuts... One more question, you said your fave GUI is wxPython - would you recommend I try using that now? Or would it be better to get to grips with Tkinter first before upgrading?
thanks again, appreciate your help :-)

[bartonc]

Thanks Barton - took me a while to find Tkinter but gottit now and am plodding thru the tuts... One more question, you said your fave GUI is wxPython - would you recommend I try using that now? Or would it be better to get to grips with Tkinter first before upgrading?
thanks again, appreciate your help :-)

I'd say "don't go too overboard with Tkinter".
Just play with it long enough to really grasp the object oriented-ness of python in general and of GUI programming specifically. wxPython IS a minimalist's dream compared to any M$ class structure (MFC, etc.), but is still contains a vast number of classes which can be overwhelming at first.

[ghostdog74]

I would say you start learning language itself before making a plunge into Tkinter. or GUI programming. Get the basic foundations first ...

[dshimer]

I would echo that, and note that there are a couple of threads that discuss good python books, both web and paper. Everyone is different, but as an example, most of my programming is processing files in various ways, the only gui stuff I have even learned is a windows file open dialog, so I just use the pywin32 editor and ignore all the gui stuff.

[sbernste]

I recommend this book: "wxPython in Action", by Noel Rappin and Robin Dunn. It takes you by the hand, step by step, is easy to read and has lots and lots of examples.

[karokat]

Thanks to all who replied for your help.
I have a trip to London in a couple of weeks and will hit the bookshops bigtime as I really want to get to grips with this. Will reluctantly take advice about ignoring GUI for the moment and concentrate on learning the nuts and bolts first.

[bartonc]

I recommend this book: "wxPython in Action", by Noel Rappin and Robin Dunn. It takes you by the hand, step by step, is easy to read and has lots and lots of examples.

Yep. That's how I started with wxPython.