Python Learning

[Bill]

Rustom Mody (Rustom Mody) wrote:
> On Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 9:45:17 AM UTC+5:30, Bill wrote:
>> Chris Angelico wrote:
>>> On Sat, Dec 16, 2017 at 8:51 AM, Bill wrote:
>>>> Varun R wrote:
>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm new to programming, can anyone guide me, how to start learning python
>>>>> programming language,...plz suggest some books also.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks all
>>>> Are you sure you want to learn Python first?
>>>> Python does enough things "behind the scene"
>>>> that it makes me question the wisdom of that.
>>>> Other points of view are welcome, of course.
>>>> Learning the primitives of C++ first, may make for an easier transition.
>>>> Surely this has been discussed before?
>>> On the contrary, that makes Python an *excellent* first language. We
>>> don't force people to learn about the chemistry of petrochemical
>>> combustion before letting them learn how to drive a car; we don't make
>>> people understand TCP/IP networking before they're allowed to type
>>> something into Google. And if you DO want people to start off with a
>>> lower-level language, why C++? Why not machine code (or at least
>>> assembly code), since that's what the CPU actually executes?
>> Most decent introductions to C++ discuss machine language (it helps make
>> sense of compilation).
>> As you indirectly suggest, learning is something of a circular process,
>> so it really doesn't make that much difference where one starts, just
>> "Do It!".  :  )
> Reallyâ¿?
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principles_of_learning#Primacy
>

You would give precedence to something written on a wikipedia page over 
your experience?
In our current context, we are talking about self-learning where one is 
one's own teacher. To my mind, if one gets that part right, one doesn't 
need to worry about the other types. I learned a great deal from BYTE 
magazine and before that Popular Electronics. Computer technology is so 
ubiquitous today, that the interested person one need only grab hold of 
something and start learning. YouTube for instance, offers a plethora of 
places to "begin".  I tell students, that if they have the math behind 
them, then the doors of science will be open to them. In my experience, 
if they do not have the basic (~pre-calc) math behind them, then 
learning from a textbook on a programming language, say,  may be a bit 
beyond them.