[Tutor] programming newbie question

[Alan Gauld]

> frustration stems from not being able to understand when to use
certain
> aspects of programming such as functions or classes.

Maybe it will help if you stop worrying about which is right. All
design decisions are compromises, the best way to find out which
work best is just to do it. There comes a point when theory must
turn into practice...

> features.  Can anyone suggest a method or some reading to help out
with
> this?

Read existing code - the samples that come with Python are
a good starting point...

Try changing them to add a feature (work on a copy for safety!)

Try writing a new program, doesn't matter much what.

Try rewriting it with a different set of design decisions
- see how much code is similar/identical, what has changed? Why?

> I also struggle with finding projects to work on does anyone know
> of projects that a novice could contribute to?

Try the Useless Python site for small scale challenges.
Try sourceforge for some bigger scale challenges :-)

HTH,

Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web tutor
http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld