Somehow I found out about doc strings, even though I was a newbie once...assuming that folks are learning Python with access to the web, and that they are reading tutorials and documentation instead of typing random characters a la Shakespearian monkeys waiting for a Python port of Unreal Tournament to appear on their terminal, they should be able to find doc strings fairly quickly. I know they're one of the first features that I teach, when I teach Python each summer.

Lol//Yes.. I love Python doc strings. I think that along with keyword args and whitepace indentation they are the best things about Python, for beginners and thus everyone. I wish they were used more deeply, and in more clever ways by IDLE. REBOL has similar docstrings ideas. Just instering strings in the right places, before headers in functions etc activates them. I'eve been starting to go back over the on-line tutorials and books to see which ones have left these beginner holes/blindpots uncovered. Python has mostly excellent docs and resuorces. And the higher you go the better it gets in terms of community support. It's the first weekend espcially those who don't have great teachers, techy parents or access to bookstores. I hope people don't misunderstand my "Top 5" posts. I am trying to honestly remember and invoke the clash of absurd common sense when Novices meet a super-system like Python. I believe Python is mostly very friendly and suitable for Edu-Sig. Technically, culturally legally. But I do suspect everyone is way too smart experienced educated here to remember any longer what it feels like to start out and be confused and frustrated. Even browsing the Python installation is overwhelming - there's so much! That's not a complaint and cause for celebration. So how can Python be improved for first time programmers? I'd like to hear more about your own teaching experiences. ./Jason