First programming language: Python?

cdwillis · 2008-12-01 00:55:17

I'm interested in learning to code games, something like the abstract shooters Kenta Cho makes.I've dabbled in BASIC before when I was in junior high, but never really programmed anything before. Would Python be a good choice? I realize this isn't going to be an overnight thing, but I'd like something simple enough to learn but advanced enough I can go pretty far with it.

Xyne · 2008-12-01 01:13:46

Python definitely meets those criteria, so yes.

Browse the forum for some interesting discussions about pros and cons of different languages, Perl vs Python, which language to learn, etc.

Svenstaro · 2008-12-04 03:32:58

Python definitely is a great language for starting out. I can recommend an Ebook that even meets your games-criteria: http://pythonbook.coffeeghost.net/book1/index.html

cdwillis · 2008-12-04 22:43:03

Thanks for the link Svenstaro. So far besides my first Hello World I've only just begun to learn how to store variables. This looks like it will be a great resource.

dsr · 2008-12-05 01:44:37

The official Python tutorial is excellent. You can probably learn the entire language in a few hours.

crouse · 2008-12-05 06:07:16

dsr wrote:

The official Python tutorial is excellent. You can probably learn the entire language in a few hours.

yeah..... probably NOT.

Here are some links you might find helpful:
http://www.byteofpython.info/ <<< i like this one
http://www.diveintopython.org/ <<< older but good

I'm still learning Python myself, but I seriously doubt anyone learns everything about Python in a few hours. You can be writing useful programs in short order though, it's a very nice language to learn and use.

Hide · 2008-12-05 07:49:37

Byte of Python is a spot on!

dsr · 2008-12-05 21:09:50

crouse, I'm not saying that one can learn everything about Python in a few hours, but rather that one can learn the entire core language in several hours. I at least did. It's a really simple language. Just read through the tutorial. Obviously it will take longer to familiarize yourself with some important modules in the standard library, but the actual language is reeeaaally simple.

Now time for me to brush up on python 3...

cdwillis · 2008-12-05 23:18:17

What IDE would you guys recommend? I don't really understand how to use Eric so I've been using nano.

ST.x · 2008-12-05 23:19:58

Vim or Geany

dsr · 2008-12-05 23:22:14

vim or emacs

elmer_42 · 2008-12-05 23:47:06

Personally, I first learned Ruby, so that's what I'll be using, but Python is definitely a good choice. Enjoy it!

Oh, and I've heard good things about Geany and recommend vim based on my experience with it.

jcs · 2008-12-06 07:12:57

I don't mean to hijack but I hope my question will help the original poster too. Can anyone suggest/link to some good programming exercise problems? Anything with real world applications is a bonus. You can only write a quadratic equation calculator or command line blackjack so many times.

I've taken intro programming with BASIC/VB/C++ in high school and university but always at the same level (what's the use of learning the same fundamentals over and over with a different syntax?). I'm interested in python as an introduction to OOP principles, while at the same time developing a skill which I can use for scripting.

I would appreciate some good problems to keep me motivated.

Last edited by jcs (2008-12-06 07:15:34)

u_no_hu · 2008-12-06 08:04:10

@jcs
Right now i am also learning python. I am trying to write a simple to-do list manager which resembles http://checkvist.com/ but works on the terminal with an ncurses interface.

The file will be displayed with conky on the desktop, but will be easily editable with the python script. If you are interested you can also join and we can learn togather :-)

BTW checkvist.com rocks... i would recommend everybody to try it out.

Last edited by u_no_hu (2008-12-06 08:05:23)

mentallaxative · 2008-12-06 08:15:44

jcs wrote:

I don't mean to hijack but I hope my question will help the original poster too. Can anyone suggest/link to some good programming exercise problems? Anything with real world applications is a bonus. You can only write a quadratic equation calculator or command line blackjack so many times.
I've taken intro programming with BASIC/VB/C++ in high school and university but always at the same level (what's the use of learning the same fundamentals over and over with a different syntax?). I'm interested in python as an introduction to OOP principles, while at the same time developing a skill which I can use for scripting.
I would appreciate some good problems to keep me motivated.

http://rubyquiz.com/ is good, even if it is based on Ruby. I'm sure you could do some of those exercises in Python.

As for the IDE question, I wouldn't keep using nano for too long, as you will later want more features. Familiarize yourself early on with a more advanced editor, like Vim or Emacs.

crouse · 2008-12-06 12:58:04

cdwillis wrote:

What IDE would you guys recommend? I don't really understand how to use Eric so I've been using nano.

I've been using Scite. It has several nice features you can set in the config file. A bonus (if you want to call it that) is that there is a version for Windows also, so if your using mulitple OS's, you can use the same editor on both systems.

oh, and a tip if you ARE programming on BOTH enviroments (Linux and Windows)
if you get a Error ": No such file or directory " when running programs on your Linux system, you most likely created them with your Windows system .

When running a python program by chmod a+x and ./nameofprogram on my Linux system I was getting that error.

Reason: Mixed OS programming enviroments.
Cause: Different EOL characters between windows and linux systems
Solution:

Open program.py in vi ..........
hit ESC to get to command line mode.......
type :set fileformat=unix and hit return.......
type :wq! and hit return, this saves changes......

A very simple solution to a problem that is sort of hard to figure out. Upon first glance everything will LOOK fine, permissions set correctly, shebang line correct, etc etc...... those stupid EOL characters put in by Windows systems........... ugggggggghhhhhhhhhh , just one more reason I hate Windows I guess.

Anyway, that's the lowtech way of fixing that annoying error I guess that's ALSO a reason to learn VI
http://usalug.org/vi.html

Last edited by crouse (2008-12-06 13:05:53)

elmer_42 · 2008-12-06 15:41:26

jcs wrote:

Can anyone suggest/link to some good programming exercise problems?

Project Euler is very nice. It's based around solving math problems.

dsr · 2008-12-06 15:46:36

http://www.pythonchallenge.com/

yo · 2008-12-20 15:34:32

an ide netbeans, is heavy but good, pacman -S netbeans ,after install go to tools,plugins,avaible,python

crouse · 2008-12-20 16:16:26

yo wrote:

an ide netbeans, is heavy but good, pacman -S netbeans ,after install go to tools,plugins,avaible,python

That actually looks pretty nice, i may have to try that one myself

linkmaster03 · 2008-12-27 03:55:09

I use Editra as a Python IDE. (it is written in Python itself actually!) It is simple and intuitive. I'm planning on learning the ropes of Vim/Emacs soon due to everyone loving them, but I just found Editra easy to use and adequate for my current needs.

Wintervenom · 2008-12-27 04:51:55

Learn Python in Ten Minutes
Non-Programmer's Tutorial for Python

As for an IDE, I'd say Geany or Gedit. Gedit is pretty nice and has a ton of plug-ins (gedit-plugins, gedit-plugins-extra). It has replaced Geany as my favorite editor.

Last edited by Wintervenom (2008-12-27 04:57:19)

X/ax · 2008-12-27 07:39:30

SPE is not to be forgotten in the IDE list. It's clean and simple, although I switched to VIM myself by now...

Allan · 2008-12-27 07:50:37

pida is another reasonable python IDE.

dsr · 2008-12-27 17:18:50

If one uses Arch Linux, chances are good that he or she is more than comfortable with vim or emacs. If so, I don't think a graphical IDE would offer him or her any advantages.

Arch Linux

#1 2008-12-01 00:55:17

First programming language: Python?

#2 2008-12-01 01:13:46

Re: First programming language: Python?

#3 2008-12-04 03:32:58

Re: First programming language: Python?

#4 2008-12-04 22:43:03

Re: First programming language: Python?

#5 2008-12-05 01:44:37

Re: First programming language: Python?

#6 2008-12-05 06:07:16

Re: First programming language: Python?

#7 2008-12-05 07:49:37

Re: First programming language: Python?

#8 2008-12-05 21:09:50

Re: First programming language: Python?

#9 2008-12-05 23:18:17

Re: First programming language: Python?

#10 2008-12-05 23:19:58

Re: First programming language: Python?

#11 2008-12-05 23:22:14

Re: First programming language: Python?

#12 2008-12-05 23:47:06

Re: First programming language: Python?

#13 2008-12-06 07:12:57

Re: First programming language: Python?

#14 2008-12-06 08:04:10

Re: First programming language: Python?

#15 2008-12-06 08:15:44

Re: First programming language: Python?

#16 2008-12-06 12:58:04

Re: First programming language: Python?

#17 2008-12-06 15:41:26

Re: First programming language: Python?

#18 2008-12-06 15:46:36

Re: First programming language: Python?

#19 2008-12-20 15:34:32

Re: First programming language: Python?

#20 2008-12-20 16:16:26

Re: First programming language: Python?

#21 2008-12-27 03:55:09

Re: First programming language: Python?

#22 2008-12-27 04:51:55

Re: First programming language: Python?

#23 2008-12-27 07:39:30

Re: First programming language: Python?

#24 2008-12-27 07:50:37

Re: First programming language: Python?

#25 2008-12-27 17:18:50

Re: First programming language: Python?

Board footer