[Pythonmac-SIG] Good way for beginner to get started with Python?

[John Velman]

Reply-To: 

I'm looking for a way to get a bright (of course) high school student
started with Python.  He has a recent iMac. He is pretty computer literate,
and knows the names of some computer languages, but no experience in
programming, and little experience with text editing per se. He is
particularly interested in games. Is at a stage of trying to decide what he
is going to do in college, and was asking me about getting started with
computer programming.

I recommend Python as a good starting language. It would be nice if there
was a simple IDE that works with python without a lot of setting up
options, moving things around in the file system, and so on. I don't want
to throw him into Vim or Emacs.

I'd like him to get to something interesting (GUI, very simple games) soon.
I showed him some examples from Pythonista on my iPad, and he was impressed
at what could be done in ~ 100 lines of Python.

For now, it would be really nice if he could work with the Python already
on his iMac, and minimal other setup. Maybe the TKInter that comes with the
iMac would also be a place to start GUI. It looks like installing
TextWrangler might be a good choice for an editor.  Or just plain TextEdit?

I've looked at PyGames, and done a little other googling, and every place
I've looked says install this, install that, use Home Brew, use Ports,
don't use Ports, be sure and set such and such an option, be sure and get a
version greater than x.y...Things that I might do, but I've been at this,
at least part time, more or less forever.

We need something than one can just do, and then learn while doing. Well,
something Mac like.  

(I myself haven't used Python much for a while, am trying to develop one
good app in Objective C on an hour or so a day.  I use the Xcode IDE, Vim
outside of Xcode. Am personally a dynasaur, am mailing this via Mutt.)

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

John V.