[Pythonmac-SIG] Good way for beginner to get started with Python?

[Chris Weisiger]

My recommendation would be to go with PyGame, but as you note this does
require some installation work. Unfortunately as soon as you start getting
into being a software developer, the kid gloves come off and you have to
learn a lot about how software works. I'm not aware of any one-stop
user-friendly installer that will get you up and running in Python with an
eye towards games. My best advice is to do the installation for him.

-Chris


On Sat, Apr 6, 2013 at 4:22 PM, John Velman <velman at cox.net> wrote:

> Reply-To:
>
> I'm looking for a way to get a bright (of course) high school student
> started with Python.  He has a recent iMac. He is pretty computer literate,
> and knows the names of some computer languages, but no experience in
> programming, and little experience with text editing per se. He is
> particularly interested in games. Is at a stage of trying to decide what he
> is going to do in college, and was asking me about getting started with
> computer programming.
>
> I recommend Python as a good starting language. It would be nice if there
> was a simple IDE that works with python without a lot of setting up
> options, moving things around in the file system, and so on. I don't want
> to throw him into Vim or Emacs.
>
> I'd like him to get to something interesting (GUI, very simple games) soon.
> I showed him some examples from Pythonista on my iPad, and he was impressed
> at what could be done in ~ 100 lines of Python.
>
> For now, it would be really nice if he could work with the Python already
> on his iMac, and minimal other setup. Maybe the TKInter that comes with the
> iMac would also be a place to start GUI. It looks like installing
> TextWrangler might be a good choice for an editor.  Or just plain TextEdit?
>
> I've looked at PyGames, and done a little other googling, and every place
> I've looked says install this, install that, use Home Brew, use Ports,
> don't use Ports, be sure and set such and such an option, be sure and get a
> version greater than x.y...Things that I might do, but I've been at this,
> at least part time, more or less forever.
>
> We need something than one can just do, and then learn while doing. Well,
> something Mac like.
>
> (I myself haven't used Python much for a while, am trying to develop one
> good app in Objective C on an hour or so a day.  I use the Xcode IDE, Vim
> outside of Xcode. Am personally a dynasaur, am mailing this via Mutt.)
>
> Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
>
> John V.
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