Looking for Python programmers--where to search?

[Mats Wichmann]

On Mon, 14 Aug 2000 23:48:28 -0700, Paul Schreiber <paul at magic.ca>
wrote:

>In article <3998C541.4FC15982 at san.rr.com>, Courageous 
><jkraska1 at san.rr.com> wrote:
>
>> > My company does web applications in Python, and we're growing like nuts.
>> > Despite (or because of) being in the SF Bay Area, we're having a hard
>> > time finding Python coders.
>> 
>> Your mistake is trying to find Python coders. That's not the
>> least bit necessary.
>> 
>> I tought one of my coworkers all the critical parts of Python
>> she needed to know in one hour on her white board. I left all
>> my notes there. That, combined with the extensive .html
>> documentation was all she needed.
>
>
>Yeah, I'll second that. Where I am, we hired programmers, not python 
>programmers.
>
>You can pick up python in a hour; all you need is a good reference book 
>to look stuff up in. _Python Essential Reference_ is that book. :) 
>(Typically people get confused about lists and tuples; or strings being 
>immutable -- minor junk.)


I really think you're slightly overstating the simplicity.  You still
have to get used to things like namespaces and how modules impact
them, import/from/reload,  etc. - i.e. there are some subtleties; and
you have to gain some kind of familiarity with the tools that are
available - standard modules and how to make effective use of them;
connectors to other languages, etc.  I agree it's not a terribly
complex language.  Maybe "an hour" to pick up the language essentials
but that's a ways from being seriously productive.  I'm putting
together a training program now; I've got four days to work with, it
will be interesting to see what I can squeeze into that time.


(Hint to employers:  there are lots of competent folks who are willing
to help on projects - part-time or full-time, consulting or permanent,
who don't understand why that should mean being tied to the SF Bay
Area... think: telecommuting.  I've done it productively for years.
If you bend a little on location your lives will get a whole lot
easier trying to fill those difficult spots!  The Bay Area has priced
itself out of being a place most people can live).
Mats Wichmann

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