Python as a Beginner Language

S

srothman

Expert Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2010
Messages
2,756
Reaction score
10
Location
Pretoria
I'm considering taking up a programming language as a hobby, and thought about Python.

Being a techie at heart, and currently in a cloud solutions role, I figured this might assist me in these activities as well. I do a fair bit of scripting at the moment, so I'm comfortable with that.

Thoughts on Python as a step up? Any resources that anyone can recommend to get started other than just Googling a bunch of stuff and running through it?
 
https://www.codecademy.com/learn/python

After that, think of a project you'd like to do and try it. Once you're done, do another similar one, you'll realize all the code you can write better than previously with the new knowledge you gained.
Then think of another that's a step up or keep adding to the project.
 
Sounds good to me. Any type of scripting or glue code I write, I write in Python. I found it very easy to learn, and pretty much any information on how to do anything in it has already been asked and answered on Stackoverflow.
 
Python is great for learning. I have a soft spot for it :D
 
I would suggest you not start with a scripting language as a first option, and do Java or C# instead, and perhaps focus on algorithms and problem solving. Reason for this, scripting languages as a first language tend to teach alot of bad practices that strongly typed compiled languages does not allow. And Learning the programming basics with a language would enable you to learn any other language later on. Hope this helps
 
ima_be_thatguy said:
I would suggest you not start with a scripting language as a first option, and do Java or C# instead, and perhaps focus on algorithms and problem solving. Reason for this, scripting languages as a first language tend to teach alot of bad practices that strongly typed compiled languages does not allow. And Learning the programming basics with a language would enable you to learn any other language later on. Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Username checks out.

Ima be that other guy: Stop hating on "scripting" languages. It is a strawman argument since 'scripted' or 'compiled' is a function of the tools used to run the code.

Python is a excellent language with very valuable applications. More so if your work involves data and plumbing data from one place to another, segmenting or combining sources, etc.

inb4: someone posts the JavaScript Wat video.
 
SlinkyMike said:
Username checks out.

Ima be that other guy: Stop hating on "scripting" languages. It is a strawman argument since 'scripted' or 'compiled' is a function of the tools used to run the code.

Python is a excellent language with very valuable applications. More so if your work involves data and plumbing data from one place to another, segmenting or combining sources, etc.

inb4: someone posts the JavaScript Wat video.
Click to expand...

LOL! Im not hating on python, or scripting languages in general, Im saying you want to learn programming, do so with the basics in mind. And python will teach you some basics, but overlook really important things, and IMO severely hamper OPs ability to learn further languages.
FYI, I enjoy python tremendously, but Ive done Java, C# and python, and Yes PHP.
So having worked in both camps, I would definitely recommend going the route of doing compiled language first.
 
ima_be_thatguy said:
I would suggest you not start with a scripting language as a first option, and do Java or C# instead, and perhaps focus on algorithms and problem solving. Reason for this, scripting languages as a first language tend to teach alot of bad practices that strongly typed compiled languages does not allow. And Learning the programming basics with a language would enable you to learn any other language later on. Hope this helps
Click to expand...

He's doing it as a hobby so doubt it'll go any further than python and javascript. He's not gonna be taking C++ for a spin any time soon so he can just as well stick to one of the easier languages out there.
 
Hamster said:
He's doing it as a hobby so doubt it'll go any further than python and javascript. He's not gonna be taking C++ for a spin any time soon so he can just as well stick to one of the easier languages out there.
Click to expand...
This is right on the money.

My scripting experience is more incidental than anything else, with my job involving a lot of automation and templatised deployments. It made sense to make life easy by scripting as much as I can.

I would love to have a more in-depth knowledge of "proper" programming, but I also know myself, and I know it's not really who I am.

Since posting I've spent some more time researching the practical application of Python, especially in the IoT and Big Data space, and it's beginning to make more sense looking at it.
 
SARS and, if I'm not mistaken Takealot makes extensive use of Python.
 
Try the free Microsoft course on EdX.

See how you like it and take it further from there.
 
ima_be_thatguy said:
LOL! Im not hating on python, or scripting languages in general, Im saying you want to learn programming, do so with the basics in mind. And python will teach you some basics, but overlook really important things, and IMO severely hamper OPs ability to learn further languages.
FYI, I enjoy python tremendously, but Ive done Java, C# and python, and Yes PHP.
So having worked in both camps, I would definitely recommend going the route of doing compiled language first.
Click to expand...
Oh. You gonna be that guy??
 
I regret not learning python long time ago, my work would have been made easier as it involves lot of data sourcing and analysis. Now, whenever I have to do something, first thing that comes to mind is there must be py module for that or or I can quickly put together a script.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X