Learning Python

[Tzarchasm]

I am am currently learning python using codecademy.com, but I realize that this is not the best place to learn from and was wondering if anyone could suggest a book for learning Python.

 

[Jaydip]

If you are a begineer I would recommend this one
http://www.amazon.com/Python-Program...eywords=python

 

[akugami]

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/

Try that to see if it is better.

 

[Graze]

I just came in here to say I don't like python syntax and their whitespace nonsense but I am only a noob at the language so I am hoping I get use to it.

If you are already versed in other programming languages this should get you up to speed on the broader aspects of python.
http://learnxinyminutes.com/docs/python/

 

[Obsoleet]

I've come to the conclusion that the whitespace vs {}; debate is ridiculous. Nerds make a huge deal over nothing. I mean hardcore dedication.

In fact there are so many things out there that programmers debate that when I dive in, I find inconsequential and meaningless. I don't get it. I think it's people who haven't tried enough stuff and formed biases just from the sound of something without actually giving it a shot.

 

[{bad}]

maybe try this one
https://www.coursera.org/course/interactivepython

 

[Graze]

I've come to the conclusion that the whitespace vs {}; debate is ridiculous. Nerds make a huge deal over nothing. I mean hardcore dedication.

In fact there are so many things out there that programmers debate that when I dive in, I find inconsequential and meaningless. I don't get it. I think it's people who haven't tried enough stuff and formed biases just from the sound of something without actually giving it a shot.

Well when every language you have used has {} and lines terminates with ; one does get accustom to it.
As I said may I would get accustom to the language and I continue to work in it.

p.s. pssh i'm no nerd!

 

[Cerb]

I've come to the conclusion that the whitespace vs {}; debate is ridiculous. Nerds make a huge deal over nothing. I mean hardcore dedication.

In fact there are so many things out there that programmers debate that when I dive in, I find inconsequential and meaningless. I don't get it. I think it's people who haven't tried enough stuff and formed biases just from the sound of something without actually giving it a shot.

The only issue with {} v. white-space that makes any difference, is that { and } are exact characters. Is a tab 2 spaces? 4 spaces? 8 spaces?

With hardcore dedication, you'd just make sure to never ever ever ever ever ever ever have a tab character in your files, ever. Which, actually, isn't that hard, if you use a good editor...

 

[Obsoleet]

The only issue with {} v. white-space that makes any difference, is that { and } are exact characters. Is a tab 2 spaces? 4 spaces? 8 spaces?

Depends. What programming language do you use daily that uses white space?
In Python there is no question among our community. http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/#indentation

I use both whitespace and {}; and manage to use both without issue. Not claiming others won't have issues with it simply because I don't. But I am one living example of someone who is not bothered regardless of how block delimiting is done. Judging from Python's popularity, I'm not alone.

 

[ringtail]

You might find this helpful.
It matters a lot whether the explainer's style of expression fits the style you easily accommodate:
http://www.arachnoid.com/python/index.html




"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all."
-Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Abigail Adams on February 22, 1787