Is Python worth it??

[jmdeschamps at gmail.com]

Simon Brunning wrote:
> On 14/11/05, john boy <xray_alpha_charlie at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > I have started out trying to learn Python for my first programming language.
> >  I am starting off with the book "how to think like a computer scientist."
> > I spend about 4-5 hrs a day trying to learn this stuff.  It is certainly no
> > easy task.  I've been at it for about 1-2 weeks now and have a very
> > elementary picture of how Python works.  I am teaching myself from home and
> > only recieve help from this forum.  Can anybody give me a timeframe as to
> > how long it usually takes to pick something like this up, so I can maybe
> > figure out a way to pace myself?  I can dedicate a good amount of time to it
> > everyday.  Any advice on what is the best way to learn Python?  I am a
> > fairly educated individual with a natural sciences degree (forestry), so I
> > also have a decent math background.  Are there any constraints
> > mathematically or logic "wise" that would prevent me from building a firm
> > grasp of this language?
>
> Keep at it.
>
> Everyone is different, so don't worry about how long it takes you vs.
> how long others might take. If you have no programming background,
> there's a lot to learn. Using Python is a good choice, I think, 'cos
> it gets a lot of extranious crud that many other languages insist on
> out of your way, but there's still a lot to learn.
>
> The best way to learn? Go through the tutorials - but if you get an
> idea for a mini-project of your own, don't be afraid to dive off and
> give it a go. Try to solve you own problems for a while, 'cos that's a
> valuable skill, but don't get to the point of frustration. Ask for
> help here or on the tutor mailing list[1].
>
> And have fun.
>
> [1] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Simon B,
> simon at brunningonline.net,
> http://www.brunningonline.net/simon/blog/

Here's another reference:
http://www.awaretek.com/tutorials.html
Tutorials are sorted by type, and the first type is 'beginners' but it
really depends on the level of hand-holding you wish. Your background
suggest that you should look at something like Richard Baldwin's Learn
to Program Using Python (no programming experience required)...

Good luck.