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Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

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Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#11

Post by RyanMcGreal »

BvS wrote: post #9
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.

Learning how to find answers to programming questions is by no means a time sink.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#12

Post by midnightmonster »

RexRollman wrote: post #8

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)?

In the absence of an epub, GoodReader on the ipad is very handy for reading PDFs as books. The type is a little small on this document, but I am able to read it without zooming and panning.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#14

Post by cmsj »

midnightmonster wrote: post #12
RexRollman wrote: post #8

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)?

In the absence of an epub, GoodReader on the ipad is very handy for reading PDFs as books. The type is a little small on this document, but I am able to read it without zooming and panning.

What does GoodReader have over using iBooks? I've mostly just used it for storing manuals for tech products so far, but it seems like a reasonable way to read PDFs.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#15

Post by silentbicycle »

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #11
BvS wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Learning how to find answers to programming questions is by no means a time sink.

It depends on the question, and if you know the right keywords to use. People starting off in programming and working through a book alone generally won't.

Of course, there's always irc.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#16

Post by MrJagil »

mechanical_fish wrote: post #7
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.

I get your message, but the problem is this is not grad school. This is a book; one way communication. I have no one to ask, as I am the only one I know who has an interest in coding.

Of course I can always ask on the web, but having to break off from coding, pose a question, and then wait for it to get answered before I can continue really breaks up my learning curve.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#17

Post by vidar »

mechanical_fish wrote: post #7
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.

God I miss those times, I seriously need to get into that kind of group again.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#18

Post by davidw »

MrJagil wrote: post #16
mechanical_fish wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I get your message, but the problem is this is not grad school. This is a book; one way communication. I have no one to ask, as I am the only one I know who has an interest in coding. Of course I can always ask on the web, but having to break off from coding, pose a question, and then wait for it to get answered before I can continue really breaks up my learning curve.

You could ask on #python on the freenode irc network.

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#19

Post by FraaJad »

RexRollman wrote: post #8

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)?

The source files are written in rst(ReStructured Text) format, the standard documentation format for Python. Specifically using [Sphinx](http://sphinx.pocoo.org).

One of the default output formats IS HTML.

Build instructions on *nix:

    $ fossil clone http://learnpythonthehardway.org lpthw.fossil 
    $ mkdir lpthw
    $ cd lpthw
    $ fossil open ../lpthw.fossil 
    $ make html
    $ open _build/html/index.html
To install sphinx:

    $ easy_install sphinx
or

    $ pip install sphinx
Here you go: a zipped file containing HTML files on google docs. https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BzdipdlNhpRrNWNmYjFlNmMtZTl...

Re: Zed finishes Learn Python The Hard Way

#20

Post by jfager »

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…

Did you share that experience with him? He's still writing the book, I'm sure he'd love the feedback.
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