Looking for Python programmers--where to search?

[Paul Duffin]

Alex Martelli wrote:
> 
> "Dennis Lee Bieber" <wlfraed at ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
> news:226eqss8q07haau8j32j9l6t9sqgu4pa2i at 4ax.com...
>     [snip]
> > Ah, a coding specialist instead of a software engineer <G> I
> > sometimes think schools shouldn't let a student write a program until
> > /after/ a few courses on algorithms, language design, etc. <G>
> 
> Writing programs (in a language that 'gets out of the way', ideally:
> Scheme or Python come to mind:-) is among the best ways to
> understand algorithms etc.
> 

The algorithms and languages (not one but many) should be taught side by 
side, learning how to write quick sort for example in a few different 
languages gives you a better understanding of both the algorithm and the
language than just doing it in one language. 

The languages should cover most of the different flavours of languages.
	Functional.
	Procedural.
	Object oriented.

> > IMHO, this was an example of management focusing too much on the
> > tool (Sybase, and getting a "Sybase programmer" working on it) and
> > ignoring the experience and knowledge others had of the data. ANYONE
> 
> Yes, good point; people who hire techies focus far too much on
> knowledge of specific tools, as a rule.
> 

At a recent interview I was asked what my "core competency" was and I
realised that I didn't have one, at least not in the sense of a 
set of skills. I answered that my "core competency" was in solving
problems.

PS. I got the job.