[Tutor] New to programming

[Rob Andrews]

Ah, a question easy enough for even me to answer!

Python is really easy to read, even if you wrote the program weeks ago or it
was written by someone else. That alone makes it good. It also comes "with
batteries included", referring to the over 200 built-in modules included to
handle common tasks (even some fairly deep stuff).

People tend to learn Python very quickly in comparison with other languages.
It's enough like C and similar languages that you aren't learning a bunch of
things that will seriously trip you up when you start moving into other
languages (despite some esoteric arguments I've heard). There's also the
GREAT community of Python users out there who are happy to help answer
questions and solve problems. And, unlike some other good first languages,
Python is a general-purpose language, so it can be used to code a wide
variety of programs instead of specializing in something like Regular
Expressions or Database Access. Oh, and if you want to learn Object-Oriented
programming, Python is fantastic for making the process of learning it just
about painless.

I could go on and on, but there's plenty of time for that.

Rob

Got Python?
http://www.lowerstandard.com/python/pythonsource.html

-----Original Message-----

Hi all,

I'm learning to program and in my enthusiasm rushed out and bought Visual
C++ and a beginners guide.  Its OK but I've read several articles warning
that C and C++ are poor first languages.  Python is widely commented on as
an ideal first language.

So I've downloaded Python and a tutorial called "How to think like a
computer scientist by Allen B. Downey and Jeffrey Elkner"

So far so good.  "Hello World" is a lot more compact in Python than in C++.

Without starting an advocacy thread, why is Python so well spoken of as a
first language?  Obviously knowing what makes it good makes learning it even
more useful...


--
Patrick Kirk
GSM: +44 7712 184 480
ICQ: 42219699

Wise Chinese Proverb:  "If tired of computer winning at real time strategy
games, try it at kick-boxing instead"


--
Patrick Kirk
GSM: +44 7712 184 480
ICQ: 42219699

Wise Chinese Proverb:  "If tired of computer winning at real time strategy
games, try it at kick-boxing instead"


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