Python as a first programming language?

stick2Herbs

stick2Herbs

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Feb 13, 2010
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In between getting my ads disapproved at facebook I find myself with some extra time, especially during weekends and shit when facebook people go masturbate. And I've always wanted to learn a programming language.

Now I don't know shit about programming, but from what I've gathered Python seems like a good starter. It also seems like a language with a decent user base which will always be helpful.

Now, what are your opinions about python as a first language? I know alot of people will probably recommend php as a first language, but php is mostly for server side stuff (I know it can be client side too), and for the time being I want to mess with creating client side apps/programs. Thats another thing, I have no set "goal" as too what I want to create. I can think of tons of things I can create, but once that happens, my mind will run rampant, I'd just prefer to start slow and just mess around with it as to not overwhelm myself.

Lastly, any good reads/books anyone can recommend for a python beginner (assuming I choose python, which I think I will).

Cheers
 


Also, forgot to mention. I see alot of people recommending beginners to start with python 2.6 due to 3.1 lacking lots of libraries. But its been over a year since the release of 3.1, and some people still recommend starting with 2.6.

What should I start with? 2.6 and then learn 3.1 or just jump into 3.1?
 
Far as a first, not sure, might be a tad difficult to jump into if you've never had any BASIC, or scripting or any kind of experience like that. Also far as working with facebook and getting help, PHP would be a better route.

Far as version, 2.6 or 2.7, don't jump into 3.x its basically too early to be jumped into, and most VPS/Servers you run into will be 2.4->2.6 with compilation required to go any higher than that.

Far as time frame, look up when 2.4 came out, CentOS still uses that as the base, also look at how long PHP 5.3.x has been out and only this month did 5.2.x become End-of-Life. Duration of a version doesn't necessarily reflect it's dominance or acceptance for that matter. Right now its pretty safe to say 2.6 will be widely distributable especially since even on CentOS you can install 2.6 separately.

Also APIs for stuff like facebook, I doubt you'll find any 3.x support with it.
 
if you want to do client side stuff (I assume desktop apps) python is an alright option, but you might want to look into visual basic. Basic is a pretty simple language to get started with and you can do some relatively robust things with it. Once you've gotten a solid hang of it, you can graduate into stuff like python, ruby, c#, etc.

You're only going to learn by doing, so don't sit and read tutorials all day. Pick a project you want to build and build it. You'll learn a ton very quickly.
 
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Thanks guys, I think I'm going to go with Python, I'll post back in like 1-2 weeks and give an update on how its going.
 
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Should have pushed Ruby :) another convert lost!
 
I started using Python two days ago and found it vastly different in structure to Java and PHP. If you have never programmed before, you would learn best practices learning one of those two.

Now, after you get the fundamentals, I'd go with Python (sorry, Ruby had too much extra syntax tacked on for me).

I started learning Python because it seemed to be able to handle what I want some programs to do more quickly than Java. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how to do some OOP in it within its syntax and Eclipse is not giving me any error messages. I only know if something works if it actually runs.
 
Rexibit said:
I started using Python two days ago and found it vastly different in structure to Java and PHP. If you have never programmed before, you would learn best practices learning one of those two.

Now, after you get the fundamentals, I'd go with Python (sorry, Ruby had too much extra syntax tacked on for me).

I started learning Python because it seemed to be able to handle what I want some programs to do more quickly than Java. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how to do some OOP in it within its syntax and Eclipse is not giving me any error messages. I only know if something works if it actually runs.
Click to expand...

I use Eclipse plus the PyDev plugin. PyDev has support for PyLint, which is another free download. With those three installed, you have an environment that can parse your python and spot errors (almost all errors, i.e bad vars, bad types, bad includes) as you type.

You can also debug from within the IDE, including single stepping. Selecting text in the IDE will evaluate it in the current environment (like visual studio's tooltips). It can launch and debug several processes from the one debugger and handles Twisted pretty well. I currently use it for working with Twisted and Django.

If you go with Eclipse, you should consider these plugins

Aptana - either as a plugin or as an alterntive to Eclipse (extra features in commercial)
Mylyn - Task management, often included already. Integrates with lots of other task managers
Subclipse - SVN client built into eclipse
Goto file - Open files in current project quickly with keyboard
Multi Clipboard - Management of the last X things you cut / pasted
Also, outside of Eclipse, I suggest you get IPython for your command line debugging pleasure. I prefer it over the standard command line shell and IDLE (The GUI shell).
Click to expand...

src: What IDE to use for Python - Stack Overflow

Also, any particular reason as too why you don't use IDLE as a DE?

Unfortunately, I'm set on python, I don't want to be jumping from language to language. Two big reasons:

1. php is apparently more forgiving, which lots of people say lead to bad programming habits
2. I'm going to be making more client side stuff, and without a doubt python is the stronger one there.
3. Java = noty bros

LOL a dchuk, I heard you were a fan of ruby
 
Ah, I forgot that there was a Lint for Python. If you ever use it for JavaScript... it will make you cry.

Aptana is a great addon for Eclipse. I used it for awhile for PHP, but went back to using Dreamweaver.
 
just pick the simplest editor and go for it. Install notepad++ if you're on windows. Don't get caught up in semantics, just code.

Also, yes, you can get away with a lot in PHP, but it really depends on if you're going for beautiful code or code that makes money. There's all kinds of comp. sci. guys who write great code, perfectly efficient, but at the end of the day, all they have is a circle jerk of code junkies and no money to show for it. Whereas you'll have marketers who will slap together 9 different PHP scripts and hold it together with some tape and 100 dollar bills and call it a day.
 
When I used Windows, I used WingIDE for python, because it had the best completion (e.g. loads python modules to populate autocomplete). Dunno if the other editors have this or not, but I could never get it to work right 'cept in Wing.
 
PHP is much easier to deal with than Python IMO.. I also think you can realize the benefits much quicker because LAMP is so easy to setup.

Although, if you are already someone who knows PHP - Ruby is fun because of Rails =) I've been dabbling in it for a while now.

I'm really digging PHP-ActiveRecord though PHP ActiveRecord - An easy to use ORM for PHP

BTW, if you want to give PHP a shot i wrote a beginner tutorial some time ago for a few buddies. PM me if your interested in that.
 
Hey guys, promised I'd update. Basically what I did was watch all 44 video tutorials from this guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mf0h3HphEA

I now have a decent understanding of python. Now I'm going to read some guides that above users posted. I think the videos will help me recall shit easier, so I wont be all confused when reading guides.

But yah.
 
stick2Herbs said:
Hey guys, promised I'd update. Basically what I did was watch all 44 video tutorials from this guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mf0h3HphEA

I now have a decent understanding of python. Now I'm going to read some guides that above users posted. I think the videos will help me recall shit easier, so I wont be all confused when reading guides.

But yah.
Click to expand...

Hey dude,even i am having same problem.hope you successfully done with your work,can you suggest which one and why.
Expecting a positive reply.
Thank you.
 
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