[Python-Dev] Python for new users

[Stephen J. Turnbull]

Nick Efford writes:

 > Widely-used and linked web resources tend to persist for a very
 > long time, so we shouldn't use the prevalence of Python 2 resources
 > as a reason for excessive caution.  The key question is how much
 > good material is available based on Python 3 - and this has improved
 > significantly over the past couple of years.

No, it really isn't, at least it's not more key than some other
questions.  Educators like you, and like me, who are in a position to
teach pretty much what we want are somewhat limited by that (but it's
really not that hard to take your favorite Python 2 tutorial and port
it to Python 3) will certainly consider that the key question -- we
can't spend all our time on one class.

But there's another kind of educator, the consultant who goes into a
company (or perhaps comes from their training department) who will
need to teach the gory details that differ because they matter to the
applications the trainees will be maintaining and extending.

And of course self-taught programmers are likely to use something
time-tested and recommended by their peers.

I agree that the prevalence of Python 2 materials *per se* is not a
reason for *excessive* caution, but I suspect if you look closely
you'll discover that new ones are being produced and old ones revised
and enhanced.  I'll personally be interested to see what happens in
the next revision of *Python Essential Reference* for example.  (And
so will Nori:
http://turnbull.sk.tsukuba.ac.jp/media/Nori-swears-by-Python-Essential-Reference.jpg)

 > Encouraging the continued use of 2.7 for existing programmers is
 > entirely justifiable,

I would disagree.  Programmers should not be discouraged from using
any version of Python that is needed for compatibility with existing
practice, but where possible with reasonable effort, the most recent
version of Python 3 should be encouraged.