[Tutor] General Programming Question

[Danny Yoo]

On Tue, 26 Jun 2001, Sheila King wrote:

> On Tue, 26 Jun 2001 12:46:29 -0400, Anthony Beaman
> <AnthonyBeaman@trginc.com>  wrote about [Tutor] General Programming
> Question:
> 
> :Hi! I've posted before but I'm a complete newbie to programming. I've almost
> :completed the "Python in 24 Hours" book and will begin with a new book next.
> :My question is when should I begin looking at other languages? Should I move
> :on to something like Programming Python or should I begin looking into some
> :other language? Thanks! 
> 
> Well, personally I would wait until I felt proficient in my first
> language, before I started moving on to another. Pick some projects that
> you would like and complete them. When you feel like you can do a few
> useful things in Python, then maybe consider to look at another
> language.

I agree on this one: it might be good to take a breather from learning
language syntax, and start trying out programs that you're interested in.  
That'll help to cement what you're learning, now that you know enough to
express some neat things in Python.

Looking at Programming Python will be helpful too, but it's still a little
passive, since it's "book reading".  That's why we encourage people to try
one's hand on a project, because it's actively engaging and personally
creative.  Several projects are listed on the Useless Python challenges:

    http://www.lowerstandard.com/python/pythonchallenge.html

But perhaps you have some project of your own that you're thinking of.  
Feel free to experiment!  Most of all, take it easy and get some
experience first.  Experience will help when you do begin looking at
another language.

Good luck!