Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

I am learning python through this book at the moment. It is my first attempt at learning to code, so I have nothing to compare it with, but I must say that this book is very good.

My only gripe is that he poses certain questions/exercises that he fully expects us to solve, one way or another. But if we cannot; we're screwed. He does not give the answer. It has only happened once so far, but that was enough for me to miss out on what seems like a pretty crucial part of the book.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#7

Post by mechanical_fish » Wed, Sep 29, 2010, 1:30 PM UTC

MrJagil wrote: post #6

I am learning python through this book at the moment. It is my first attempt at learning to code, so I have nothing to compare it with, but I must say that this book is very good. My only gripe is that he poses certain questions/exercises that he fully expects us to solve, one way or another. But if we cannot; we're screwed. He does not give the answer. It has only happened once so far, but that was enough for me to…

He does not give the answer.

Welcome to graduate school! (And, for that matter, real life.)

As in grad school, the secret is: If you can't figure it out, ask around. Form teams that stay up until 3am waving their hands and sketching on chalkboards. If nothing else, it's a bonding experience that you'll treasure for life.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#8

Post by RexRollman » Wed, Sep 29, 2010, 1:31 PM UTC

Zed,

May I suggest making it available in other formats, assuming that it is possible, once it is finished? Perhaps as text or HTML files in a tarball? Or even as an epub (for Nooks and iPad)?

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#9

Post by BvS » Wed, Sep 29, 2010, 1:32 PM UTC

MrJagil wrote: post #6

I am learning python through this book at the moment. It is my first attempt at learning to code, so I have nothing to compare it with, but I must say that this book is very good. My only gripe is that he poses certain questions/exercises that he fully expects us to solve, one way or another. But if we cannot; we're screwed. He does not give the answer. It has only happened once so far, but that was enough for me to…

Same here. On the one hand it might be a good thing not to give the answers away so you also have to learn to search the web, use stackoverflow... but on the other hand it can be a huge time sink if you just want to know if your solution is correct.

Maybe some kind of forum in addition to the bok would be a good idea.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#10

Post by charlief » Wed, Sep 29, 2010, 1:37 PM UTC

shin_lao wrote: post #5

Unless I'm mistaken there's no chapter about functional programming in Python (lambda functions, filter(), map() and reduce()). I really think it's acceptable to introduce these function to newbies, I'll go as far as saying it's actually a good thing. I like the chapter on automated testing.

While I do agree those principles are useful, I think introducing those topics would diverge the focus of the book. I think the goal was of introductory nature not comprehensiveness.