Beginning Python

[Sells, Fred]

I find 3 elements contribute significantly to becoming competent in python

1.  a decent IDE so you can see the big picture (multiple files and
directories). I use Eclipse + PyDev because Eclipse supports other goodies
like CVS.  I'm sure other IDE's are as good if not better, but who has time
to check them all out.

2.  Looking at others examples especially when solving real-world problems.
I've learned much from the Python Cookbook even though I've used Python for
15 years.

3.  Building a real-world application where you cannot change the
requirements to fit your current knowledge.

of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong :)

---snip---
> 
> Seriously, there is no way for anyone to predict how long it will  
> take you to learn something.  In this case, that something (Python)  
> is a moving target -- there are a few things I use daily that 
> weren't  
> even part of the language when I started.
> 
> I do believe that it takes about three years to get reasonably  
> competent at anything.  And about ten years to get really 
> good at it.  
> And probably another ten years to be a master (I'm only guessing  
> though -- because I haven't been doing anything for twenty years  
> yet).  Of course, by my metrics I guess even Guido wouldn't be a  
> master at Python so perhaps I'm full of crap :-)
> 
> Hope this helps,
> Michael
> 
>