newb

[whitey]

hi all. am totally new to python and was wondering if there are any
newsgroups that are there specifically for beginners. i have bought a
book for $2 called "learn to program using python" by alan gauld.
starting to read it but it was written in 2001. presuming that the
commands and info would still be valid? any websites or books that are a
must for beginners? any input would be much appreciated...cheers

 

[John Machin]

hi all. am totally new to python and was wondering if there are any
newsgroups that are there specifically for beginners. i have bought a
book for $2 called "learn to program using python" by alan gauld.
starting to read it but it was written in 2001. presuming that the
commands and info would still be valid? any websites or books that are a
must for beginners? any input would be much appreciated...cheers

2001 is rather old. Most of what you'll want is on the web. See
http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide

 

[Dave Angel]

hi all. am totally new to python and was wondering if there are any
newsgroups that are there specifically for beginners. i have bought a
book for $2 called "learn to program using python" by alan gauld.
starting to read it but it was written in 2001. presuming that the
commands and info would still be valid? any websites or books that are a
must for beginners? any input would be much appreciated...cheers

Welcome to the forum,

Newsgroup:

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For an updated Alan Gauld tutorial:
the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/

The python.org website is a wealth of information, and also contains
links to many other python-oriented sites.

Before installing python, consider whether you want version 2.x or 3.x.
The language changed a bit at 3.x, and while you're learning, you want a
tutorial that matches the version you're running.

Easiest way to recognize a particular script as being one or the other
is if it has a print statement. print is a statement in version 1.x and
2.x, and is a function in version 3. Any recent tutorial will tell you
which it's targeting, but since version 3 is only a year or so old,
older tutorials or sample code might well not mention it.

DaveA

 

[Lie Ryan]

hi all. am totally new to python and was wondering if there are any
newsgroups that are there specifically for beginners.

Yes, Python Tutor list is specifically aimed for beginners. You can
access it by subscribing to either (e-mail address removed) or
gmane.comp.python.tutor

would still be valid?

Mostly yes. However I'd recommend getting a more updated book
especially if you're a beginner.

 

[Monte Milanuk]

hi all. am totally new to python and was wondering if there are any
newsgroups that are there specifically for beginners. i have bought a
book for $2 called "learn to program using python" by alan gauld.
starting to read it but it was written in 2001. presuming that the
commands and info would still be valid? any websites or books that are a
must for beginners? any input would be much appreciated...cheers

Alan Gauld posts fairly regularly over on the python-tutor mailing list,
as well as here. He has newer material on his website @
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/, and if you google 'python tutorial' you'll
probably find more material than you can shake a stick at - from web
pages to books (both online and dead-tree) to You-Tube videos.

One book that helps me out quite a bit is John Zelle's "Python
Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science". Just be aware there
is a first edition (covers python 2.x) and a newer second edition
(python 3.x) - both available from Amazon.

 

[Mithrandir]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

hi all. am totally new to python and was wondering if there are any
newsgroups that are there specifically for beginners. i have bought a
book for $2 called "learn to program using python" by alan gauld.
starting to read it but it was written in 2001. presuming that the
commands and info would still be valid? any websites or books that are a
must for beginners? any input would be much appreciated...cheers

It may also depend on which version of Python you wish to use. Since
you're a "newb", I'd probably suggest starting off with Python 3. The
version in your book is probably version 2.*. The difference is minor,
but, when you're starting off (I assume with computer languages in
general?) the difference in syntax can kick you where it hurts. Programs
that work with Python 2.*, may not work with Python 3. However, I
suggest Python 3 since it seems to be the "code of tomorrow."

It may also depend on what you wish to do with your knowledge of Python
(applications, games, web frameworks, etc.) If you want to make games, I
suggest also learning about pyGame.

As for book versus website, I started off with, as others have
mentioned, learning online. Not only is it free, but the boundary
between page and screen is broken. Note though that some off-sites
(Wikibooks for instance) may not be complete in their writing.
Python.org has a wealth of knowledge about almost everything involving
Python. However, *some* of the documentation there may not be suitable
for absolute beginners. There are several links there to other good
websites for those with no experience in coding, all the way up to a
ridiculously complicated level. I highly suggest poking around there.

If you wish to read a book instead, try:
http://www.amazon.com/Python-Programming-Absolute-Beginner-3rd/dp/1435455002/
Or go to your local library and poke there.

Good luck!

- --
People should read more.
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/User:MithrandirAgain
"All that is gold does not glitter,
not all those who wander are lost;
the old that is strong does not wither,
deep roots are not reached by the frost.
- From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
a light from the shadows shall spring;
renewed shall be blade that was broken,
the crownless again shall be king."
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[whitey]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1



It may also depend on which version of Python you wish to use. Since
you're a "newb", I'd probably suggest starting off with Python 3. The
version in your book is probably version 2.*. The difference is minor,
but, when you're starting off (I assume with computer languages in
general?) the difference in syntax can kick you where it hurts. Programs
that work with Python 2.*, may not work with Python 3. However, I
suggest Python 3 since it seems to be the "code of tomorrow."

It may also depend on what you wish to do with your knowledge of Python
(applications, games, web frameworks, etc.) If you want to make games, I
suggest also learning about pyGame.

As for book versus website, I started off with, as others have
mentioned, learning online. Not only is it free, but the boundary
between page and screen is broken. Note though that some off-sites
(Wikibooks for instance) may not be complete in their writing.
Python.org has a wealth of knowledge about almost everything involving
Python. However, *some* of the documentation there may not be suitable
for absolute beginners. There are several links there to other good
websites for those with no experience in coding, all the way up to a
ridiculously complicated level. I highly suggest poking around there.

If you wish to read a book instead, try:
http://www.amazon.com/Python-Programming-Absolute-Beginner-3rd/ dp/1435455002/
Or go to your local library and poke there.

Good luck!

- --
People should read more.
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/User:MithrandirAgain "All
that is gold does not glitter,
not all those who wander are lost;
the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by
the frost. - From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the
shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the
crownless again shall be king."
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Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/

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thank you all for the info. will definately check out your suggested
links, really excited about learning to code and hopefully in the near
future will be able to contribute somehow to the community. see you
around...

 

[geremy condra]

thank you all for the info. will definately check out your suggested
links, really excited about learning to code and hopefully in the near
future will be able to contribute somehow to the community. see you
around...

If you're new to programming overall, you might want to check out
project euler too.

Geremy Condra