[Tutor] failing to learn python

[Alan Gauld]

> has been very interesting.  It illustrates the fact that software
> engineering remains very much a craft. As with all crafts, is heavily
> influenced by the preferences (style if you will) of the individual
> artisan.  There are very few 'right or wrong' answers here.

Oops, you hit a hot button there. :-)

<RANT>
I don't think the multitude of styles or tools is any different to any
other engineering discipline and cerainly doesn't indicate any more
craft status than the fact that different electrical engineers have 
different
preferences of AVO meter type (analogue, digital, electronic, magnetic
etc - and most use several). Chosing the right tool for the job is just
as much part of the skill of the engineer as much as the artisan.

Where there may be a difference is that the engineer may specify the
tools (and definitely the materials) during the design process, the
artisan may choose the tools and materials in an ad-hoc manner
as the work progresses. The engineer's goals are consistency and
economy whereas the artisans goals are "quality(*)" and individuality.

(*)Engineers strive for quality too, but a pre-determined measure
of quality not the abstract concept of 'fine-ness' that craftsmen generally
aim for.

Software engineering, when practiced as engineering, is very little
different to other branches of engineering, unfortunately it is, for
various reasons, not often practiced as an enginering disipline
but as a craft. But the SE label is applied regardless! As in other
engineering disciplines it will take a large disaster wiith huge loss
of human life(*) due to badly designed software to force the industry
to adopt the kind of rigour demanded oin other fields. It is entirely
possible now, it's just not practiced!

(*)And even then only when that loss of life is accompanied by
correspondingly large insurance claims - or is that too cynical?
We'll find out fairly soon I'm sure...

</RANT>

Alan G.