[Tutor] New Member Intro

[David L Neil]

On 6/12/19 11:36 AM, Mats Wichmann wrote:
> On 12/5/19 11:22 AM, Alan Thwaits wrote:
>> I'm brand-new to Python and to this list. In fact, I have no programming
>> experience at all, save an introductory course in BASIC that I took in
>> 1981.
>>
>> So far, I've installed Python 3.8.0 on my Windows 10 machine, have
>> bookmarked a few online tutorials, and have requested a couple of
>> "beginning Python" books from the local public library. And so the
>> adventure begins.
>>
>> I expect I'll be asking some embarrassingly simple questions, just so 
>> I can
>> get off the ground with this. Please be gentle.
> 
> welcome!

+1


> simple is fine.  just be sure to give enough information to help the 
> list help you... think of if someone came to you with a question. People 
> sometimes pop up with the python equivalent of "my car won't work, can 
> you help" and then sadly the answer becomes No....  (grin)

+1
It never hurts to explain 'the bit you understand' and then 'the bit you 
don't'; to encourage answers at 'the right level'.


That's a long, long, time between programming exercises! I'm estimating 
that back-then you were using BASIC with single letter or letter&digit 
variableNMs on some predecessor to the IBM PC (?ZX-80, Spectrum, TRS-80, 
Apple ][...).

That said, in many ways things haven't changed much, with expanding 
interest in IoT (the Internet of Things) causing renewed attention to 
single-board computers, eg Raspberry Pi. They're not (physically) much 
bigger than the 'computers' we were assembling and experimenting with, 
all those decades ago. (but are significantly more powerful!)

Sounds like you've taken a sound approach to learning. Another avenue 
you might like to consider are MOOCs (Massively Open On-line Courses) 
from platforms such as Coursera and edX. There are also plenty of 
on-line courses offered by private-providers.
-- 
Regards =dn