Learn Python

49 points by mannjani 13 years ago | 24 comments

gergles 13 years ago |

> Right now we only support social logins.

That's too bad; I was interested in moving beyond the first page. This is about as far from a social site as you can get. You don't have any need for my social graph. Please stop doing this.

If you're too lazy to write your own auth system, at least support OpenID or Persona or some other open standard rather than forcing people to use one of your blessed providers.

Surio 13 years ago | |

Learnstreet have hit HN front page a few times already in the last few months!?

I did login using one of the options, they provided to check out the content some time ago, but I definitely would have preferred a more neutral auth system like OpenID, etc., as you've rightly pointed!

mddw 13 years ago |

These learning websites never work for me. I know starting with basics (operations, variables, string manipulation) is the sensible thing to do, but they bore me. I always find easier (well, harder but more engaging) to read real code running a real simple application and trying to figure it out by breaking it. (it's not a critic of learning sites or this one in particular. It's just they don't speak to me.)

SkyMarshal 13 years ago | |

For those who already know programming in another language, then your way is SoP. Either that or just read the spec.

Pretty sure sites like these are aimed more at complete beginners.

jeffwass 13 years ago | |

In my case, I've been working through the problems at Project Euler, specifically solving the problems in python as a means to learn. http://projecteuler.net/

One of the cool things is that after you solve a problem you can review how others attacked the problem (people use almost any language you can think of), and seek continual improvements for greater efficiency. Python is a popular choice there.

silverlake 13 years ago | |

I got in the zone and learned Python, Javascript, HTML, CSS, jQuery and a few APIs in a single weekend on codecademy. The secret is large amounts of caffeine.

theoretick 13 years ago | | |

The APIs are a super nice touch. Running through tutorials can get really monotonous but the API stuff gave me a burst of excitement to play with the software I use every day.

Flaggnlos 13 years ago | |

Could you recommend some simple applications like you describe?

I'm learning python but find most tutorials boring. Your method sounds interesting.

jlgaddis 13 years ago | | |

I just recently (a month or so ago) watched and did the exercises in the Google Python Class. That was my first introduction to Python and I stayed interested because the exercises were a bit of a challenge instead of the same old boring crap you see everywhere.

About two weeks ago, I wrote a somewhat complex application to "scratch an itch" at work and have since started in with Django.

I'd recommend the Google class (it's on Youtube).

fnbr 13 years ago | | |

Seconded! Especially for web apps. I'm trying to learn how to implement something with a GUI, and struggling to move beyond the basics.

GhotiFish 13 years ago |

Looks like this setup is quiet good.I only have one question:

Why, exactly, do I need to sign up? What purpose does this serve?

   "If you have registered as a member and given LearnStreet consent,
    we may share your personally identifiable information with advertisers,
    business partners, and other entities that are not affiliated with
    LearnStreet who would like to send you information about their products
    and services. We do not share personally identifiable information with
    other third-party organizations for their marketing or promotional use
    without your consent or except as part of a specific program or feature
    for which you will have the ability to opt-in."

Never mind, I can hazard a guess.

velodrome 13 years ago |

This might be a useful resource (Learn Python the Hard Way): http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/

terhechte 13 years ago |

I liked the tutorial, so I send it over to my girlfriend, since I've been nagging her for quite some time now to learn python. She's doing lots of statistics, and uses R for that, and I think that Python is a great addition to R. It never really worked so far, until today. She really liked this tutorial and has been going through it for quite some time now. It is really, really well made.

TimPC 13 years ago |

I really like that they capture and address the problem of pushing people out into IDE's where they can do real work. Most of these sites are flawed in that they want to create a permanent lock-in to their tools, but the best learning happens once you can use an IDE.

theoretick 13 years ago | |

I've done a bunch of these and whenever they say "oh, we use something thats a lot like javascript but we've slightly modified it" I just groan.

I'd much rather work harder to learn something real than learn a simplified style that is utterly useless outside your website.

pekk 13 years ago | |

I don't see why an IDE is necessary for learning. It's good to learn to understand and write code without the computer filling in everything for you.

jitl 13 years ago |

There are still a few issues with the UI here -- I can't scroll the glossary or the table of contents, and it's way too long for my browser window.

seatac 13 years ago |

How MUCH of Python can you learn at this site for free? If I was told to get my wallet out after a few little courses I'd almost feel like I wasted time.

SenatorSquires 13 years ago | |

Tutorial was fun as a complete coding novice. Would like to know the answer to the question above. Would love to see a good summary example video of what Python can do start to finish and how it fits into the process of say.. creating a cool web app. i.e. Take this chunk of code, do this, this and this and now you literally have your own web app. At that point I would like to learn / get excited to learn Python by messing around with it. Does anyone know of anything like this?

"If you have registered as a member and given LearnStreet consent, we may share your personally identifiable information with advertisers, business partners, and other entities that are not affiliated with LearnStreet who would like to send you information about their products and services. We do not share personally identifiable information with other third-party organizations for their marketing or promotional use without your consent or except as part of a specific program or feature for which you will have the ability to opt-in."