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Learn Python The Hard Way 2nd Edition Released

learnpythonthehardway.org

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Re: Learn Python The Hard Way 2nd Edition Released

#21

Post by ineedtosleep »

zedshaw wrote: post #14
Sukotto wrote: post #13

LPTHW has a good rep, but it looks like it focuses on teaching someone who's never programmed before. Would anyone like to recommend something similar for people already well versed in (a) mainstream language(s)?

http://docs.python.org/tutorial/ then do: http://www.djangobook.com/en/2.0/ But, I'll also say, LPTHW is deceptively simple. Try doing it anyway, since if you know a language already you can blaze through it, and when you get to around 30 or so it sneaks up behind you.

Coming from experience with the last version, it definitely does sneak up behind you around part 30. The pacing and attitude for programming is the reason why this is one of the books I recommend to people starting to learn general programming. Specifically for me, however, I need something a bit more concise as when I'm in programming mode I tend to lose focus when there's too much fluff.

But anyway, great job.

Re: Learn Python The Hard Way 2nd Edition Released

#22

Post by jarnold »

Sukotto wrote: post #13

LPTHW has a good rep, but it looks like it focuses on teaching someone who's never programmed before. Would anyone like to recommend something similar for people already well versed in (a) mainstream language(s)?

I would still recommend it, even to those who know how to program. A lot of the book is just non-stop typing as fast as you can. The benefit to me was how it improved my 'muscle memory' when actually sitting down to write something on my own. There was less stumbling over little things like -- "how do import a library again? 'require?' 'load?'"

As with most things, you get out of it what you put into it. For example, I wrote unit tests in one of the 'extra credit' assignments to explain a bunch of python's symbols.

Re: Learn Python The Hard Way 2nd Edition Released

#23

Post by rubergly »

Does anyone know of any good books for people that are proficient with Python and want to learn more about the language and come closer to being an expert?

The idea of LPTHW has always seemed cool, but I've looked at the table of contents a couple of times and thought "huh, 80% of these topics seem trivial to me"; maybe I could still benefit by skimming through and reading anything that I don't already know. Also, it's kind of a bummer that there's no .mobi version.

Re: Learn Python The Hard Way 2nd Edition Released

#24

Post by zedshaw »

rubergly wrote: post #23

Does anyone know of any good books for people that are proficient with Python and want to learn more about the language and come closer to being an expert? The idea of LPTHW has always seemed cool, but I've looked at the table of contents a couple of times and thought "huh, 80% of these topics seem trivial to me"; maybe I could still benefit by skimming through and reading anything that I don't already know. Also, it…

Yeah, LPTHW isn't for you if you already know Python. I guess I would recommend Mark Lutz books, but really, if you are already proficient in Python then I'd say go out and read code and implement algorithms in Python to learn more.

As for .mobi version, it's a pain in the ass to generate it well enough for a "code book". It's supposed to be coming out on the Kindle store soon, but all of my previews of it just look like junk. I got it as close as I could, but .mobi just doesn't cut it when there's strictly formatted code. If you've got a suggestion on making code look nice in .mobi I'd love to hear it.

Re: Learn Python The Hard Way 2nd Edition Released

#25

Post by edj »

zedshaw wrote: post #24
rubergly wrote: post #23

Does anyone know of any good books for people that are proficient with Python and want to learn more about the language and come closer to being an expert? The idea of LPTHW has always seemed cool, but I've looked at the table of contents a couple of times and thought "huh, 80% of these topics seem trivial to me"; maybe I could still benefit by skimming through and reading anything that I don't already know. Also, it…

Yeah, LPTHW isn't for you if you already know Python. I guess I would recommend Mark Lutz books, but really, if you are already proficient in Python then I'd say go out and read code and implement algorithms in Python to learn more. As for .mobi version, it's a pain in the ass to generate it well enough for a "code book". It's supposed to be coming out on the Kindle store soon, but all of my previews of it just look…

Amazon recommends using JPEGs to display table data in Kindle books. Perhaps the same solution could work with code in .mobi files.

Re: Learn Python The Hard Way 2nd Edition Released

#28

Post by sigzero »

RexRollman wrote: post #27
sigzero wrote: post #19

I am doing all of it with Python 3. So far, very little needs changing to make the examples work. Very clean and concise. Thanks Zed.

So this targets an earlier version of Python?

Yes, the 2.x series. I am learning with Python 3 because of a class I am taking and supplementing with Zed's tutorial and just writing the examples in Python 3 format. So far, so good. I might hit a snag when I get to the web.py stuff but I will try to convert that to P3 before using it. All of it rolled together is helping me a lot.

Re: Learn Python The Hard Way 2nd Edition Released

#29

Post by zedshaw »

edj wrote: post #25
zedshaw wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, LPTHW isn't for you if you already know Python. I guess I would recommend Mark Lutz books, but really, if you are already proficient in Python then I'd say go out and read code and implement algorithms in Python to learn more. As for .mobi version, it's a pain in the ass to generate it well enough for a "code book". It's supposed to be coming out on the Kindle store soon, but all of my previews of it just look…

Amazon recommends using JPEGs to display table data in Kindle books. Perhaps the same solution could work with code in .mobi files.

Apparently that's what BigNerdRanch does. Seriously, that just makes my inner nerd cry.
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