Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#31

Post by capkutay » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 9:03 PM UTC

Try learning about some simple sorting algorithms and implement them in python. Most algorithms resources have pseudocode and python conveniently resembles pseudo code in a way. You can just use wikipedia's page on sorting algorithms[0]. You could kill two birds with one stone by sharpening your python skills and get a nice intro to algorithms.

Then maybe try implementing some of the fundamental data structures such as queue's and linked lists[1] along with their basic operations (such as push and pop for queues). Try to see if you can use pythons built-in data structures[2], or do it yourself with object oriented programming.

0:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorting_algorithm#Summaries_of...

1:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_data_structures

2:http://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/datastructures.html

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#32

Post by brandoncapecci » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 9:16 PM UTC

kilkurdu wrote: post #30

incision wrote: post #4

I'm in a very similar position. If you really like Codeacademy, there are non-track exercises that involve Python in the API section [0] and a couple of Python challenges [1][2] that aren't listed. What I'm doing now: * Solving exercises on Project Euler in Python. [3] * Working through each example in the Python Cookbook[4]. It was just updated to the third edition. * Watched Guido's Painless Python talks from a few…

Aren't Project Euler's exercises seem more likely maths exercises? It's kinda difficult for those who graduated from social sciences and tries to learn programming from scratch.

Yep. Project Euler is a waste of time if you're trying to get up to speed in learning programming.

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#33

Post by whimsy » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 9:43 PM UTC

srik wrote: post #16

arms wrote: post #5

Subscribe to the Pycoder's weekly email list [1]. I love looking through the different libraries - you can certainly learn a lot from digging through source code. I just found out about Neckbeard Republic [2] today - it looks to be similar to Railscasts. I haven't watched any of their stuff yet, but I plan to. 1 - http://pycoders.com/ 2 - https://www.neckbeardrepublic.com/screencasts/

Those are excellent resources. I started a new screencast yesterday - http://pycandy.com Do take a look.

What software are you using to screencast?

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#34

Post by incision » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 12:31 AM UTC

kilkurdu wrote: post #30

incision wrote: post #4

I'm in a very similar position. If you really like Codeacademy, there are non-track exercises that involve Python in the API section [0] and a couple of Python challenges [1][2] that aren't listed. What I'm doing now: * Solving exercises on Project Euler in Python. [3] * Working through each example in the Python Cookbook[4]. It was just updated to the third edition. * Watched Guido's Painless Python talks from a few…

Aren't Project Euler's exercises seem more likely maths exercises? It's kinda difficult for those who graduated from social sciences and tries to learn programming from scratch.

>Aren't Project Euler's exercises seem more likely maths exercises?

Project Euler does involve a math, but so does efficient programming.

Efficiency can seem a pretty abstract thing and it might not crop up right away in more typical programming tasks. Working a Euler problem and refining to a solution that runs in 1% or 0.001% of the time required for the most straightforward solution is a great demonstrator.

>It's kinda difficult for those who graduated from social sciences and tries to learn programming from scratch.

Sure, but the context of the question here isn't really from scatch. The OP has already completed at least the 296 exercises in the Python track at Codeacademy to establish a base.

Personally, I haven't graduated from anything and I treat the Euler exercises as an interesting way to practice/learn a bit of programming and math.

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#35

Post by srik » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 12:51 AM UTC

whimsy wrote: post #33

srik wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those are excellent resources. I started a new screencast yesterday - http://pycandy.com Do take a look.

What software are you using to screencast?

screeny. Its bare bones but easy to use

And good ol' quicktime to stitch it up.

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#36

Post by westurner » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 1:47 AM UTC

kilkurdu wrote: post #30

incision wrote: post #4

I'm in a very similar position. If you really like Codeacademy, there are non-track exercises that involve Python in the API section [0] and a couple of Python challenges [1][2] that aren't listed. What I'm doing now: * Solving exercises on Project Euler in Python. [3] * Working through each example in the Python Cookbook[4]. It was just updated to the third edition. * Watched Guido's Painless Python talks from a few…

Aren't Project Euler's exercises seem more likely maths exercises? It's kinda difficult for those who graduated from social sciences and tries to learn programming from scratch.

The Green Tea Press books are great; and free.

Think Python: How To Think Like a Computer Scientist http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkpython.html

Think Complexity: Exploring Complexity Science with Python : http://www.greenteapress.com/compmod/

Think Stats: Probability and Statistics for Programmers : http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkstats/index.html

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#37

Post by westurner » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 1:50 AM UTC

incision wrote: post #4

I'm in a very similar position. If you really like Codeacademy, there are non-track exercises that involve Python in the API section [0] and a couple of Python challenges [1][2] that aren't listed. What I'm doing now: * Solving exercises on Project Euler in Python. [3] * Working through each example in the Python Cookbook[4]. It was just updated to the third edition. * Watched Guido's Painless Python talks from a few…

You can search announced, in progress, future, self-paced, and finished MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) with class-central.com : http://www.class-central.com/search?q=python

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#38

Post by westurner » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 1:54 AM UTC

Here are three resources for learning Python for Science :

http://scipy-lectures.github.io

https://github.com/jrjohansson/scientific-python-lectures

https://github.com/ipython/ipython/wiki/A-gallery-of-interes...

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#39

Post by westurner » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 1:56 AM UTC

westurner wrote: post #38

Here are three resources for learning Python for Science : http://scipy-lectures.github.io https://github.com/jrjohansson/scientific-python-lectures https://github.com/ipython/ipython/wiki/A-gallery-of-interes...

Also, https://www.wakari.io/gallery

Re: Ask HN: Intermediate Python learning resources?

#40

Post by brudgers » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 12:35 PM UTC

canibanoglu wrote: post #27

Disclaimer: This may seem harsh but I really don't mean to be harsh. If you have "only" completed Codecademy or similar, you're nowhere near the intermediate mark. I have used Codecademy and Code School and they are indeed great. But they give a false sense of security and accomplishment to the user. They are great for introduction to a language but they only introduce you to the language, nothing beyond that. Don't…

I will say, "this" thusly:

SICP is an introductory course in computing. It covers meta-linguistic abstractions. The Code Academy course in JavaScript I completed required a bit of filling in the boiler plate for its final project.

Code Academy is a great project, in part because it is designed to help students achieve success without the pain of the real world. That is also a weakness.