[Noisebridge-discuss] The future of Python class at Noisebridge
aditya bhargava
aditya at wefoundland.com
Tue Oct 5 18:36:36 UTC 2010
Mark himself has said that Dive Into Python has become outdated and he
hasn't had time to update it. I was thinking of going with Al's book for
this class. Game dev looks like a popular way of getting into coding and I
think it's because of the payoff at the end where you get to play your own
game. I looked over the book and it has the kind of projects that people
would sincerely enjoy working on. Overall I think we will have the most fun
with that book.
I'm picturing the class as a beginner's intro to programming, with Python as
the language of choice and Invent With Python as the book of choice. I'm
down for running the classes. If anyone else is interested in tag-teaming
it, or if people want to come and talk about specialized topics
intermittently, I would be down for that too.
Daniel, I have questions for you about what you've covered so far...maybe we
should take that conversation off the NB mailing list?
Adit
On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 11:06 AM, jim <jim at systemateka.com> wrote:
>
> Many thanks.
>
>
> On Tue, 2010-10-05 at 10:21 -0700, Daniel C. Silverstein wrote:
> > The examples in Dive Into Python are needlessly complex, and, in some
> > cases, hopelessly outdated. Also, like Think Python, I find the order
> > of topics to be questionable.
> >
> > Zed Shaw has an amusing and vitriolic rant re: Dive Into Python here:
> > http://oppugn.us/posts/1272050135.html
> > I don't necessarily agree with the entire rant, but I agree with the
> > spirit of it.
> >
> > (Dan)
> >
> > On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 10:15 AM, jim <jim at systemateka.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > I'd love to know your take on Dive into Python.
> > > Can you summarize?
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tue, 2010-10-05 at 09:30 -0700, Daniel C. Silverstein wrote:
> > >> I should point out that, over time, I became dissatisfied with Think
> > >> Python and Dive into Python. I have not used Al's book so I can't
> > >> comment on it for good or bad. More recently I've been using the
> > >> Google Python Class curriculum available here:
> > >> http://code.google.com/edu/languages/google-python-class/
> > >>
> > >> (Dan)
> > >>
> > >> On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 8:13 AM, jim <jim at well.com> wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > The Monday night Python class began as a SF-LUG Python
> > >> > study group with Asheesh as mentor. Asheesh left the
> > >> > region to set up openhatch.org and Daniel took over,
> > >> > formalizing the meeting somewhat as a class with teacher,
> > >> > and has hung in there for over a year.
> > >> > You can change the approach as you see fit. You might
> > >> > take it on with someone else to share the mentoring or
> > >> > lecture role or revert to study group format by reducing
> > >> > the role of the mentor or whatever. If you share the role,
> > >> > you have the plus side of better continuity (each mentor
> > >> > can take a break) but the with price of keeping in sync
> > >> > with each other. There's at least one other NB member
> > >> > who's got very good Python skills with an aptitude for
> > >> > teaching.
> > >> >
> > >> > I believe there are two main aspects to support:
> > >> > * provide real-world, simple examples that demand that
> > >> > attendees think out the problem solution in terms of
> > >> > Python language features and Pythonic techniques.
> > >> > * accommodate stone beginners and also people who are
> > >> > approaching intermediate levels. The Dive into Python
> > >> > book is available on line and might work for both
> > >> > groups. Al Sweigart's book, Invent Your Own Computer
> > >> > Games with Python, is currently in the Turing room
> > >> > and I believe has been used in the Python class; it's
> > >> > certainly suitable for beginners and to some degree
> > >> > to extending Python skills. The book that Asheesh
> > >> > first chose as a basis for the group is Python for
> > >> > Software Design: How to Think Like a Computer
> > >> > Scientist and for a while, at least, Daniel stuck
> > >> > with it.
> > >> >
> > >> > http://diveintopython.org/
> > >> > http://inventwithpython.com/
> > >> > http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/
> > >> >
> > >> > (my opinions: ) I and a few others have had some
> > >> > objections to parts of the Think Python text. I'd not use
> > >> > it in favor of Al's book and Dive into Python.
> > >> > I think sticking to the current schedule (Monday
> > >> > evenings from 6:30 to 8:00) is important.
> > >> > There are several Python groups in the bay area, and
> > >> > one or more of their members might be willing to share
> > >> > the leader role or come in for an occasional lecture or
> > >> > point you to examples at times you find your own well dry.
> > >> >
> > >> > http://www.pygamesf.org/
> > >> > http://www.pywebsf.org/
> > >> > http://www.baypiggies.net/
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > On Mon, 2010-10-04 at 23:56 -0700, aditya bhargava wrote:
> > >> >> I have a fair amount of experience in the language, but I've never
> > >> >> been to one of these classes. What are they usually like? I can
> > >> >> volunteer to make up cheat sheets or talk about specialized topics
> if
> > >> >> there's interest in that. Off the top of my head, I could talk
> about:
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> - scientific computing in Python
> > >> >> - working with Django
> > >> >> - writing modules in C++ using Boost::Python and other alternatives
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Adit
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 10:11 PM, Daniel C. Silverstein
> > >> >> <cubes at ghosthacked.net> wrote:
> > >> >> Howdy,
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Would anyone be interested in taking over teaching Python
> > >> >> class at
> > >> >> Noisebridge going forward? Python is one of the longest
> > >> >> running
> > >> >> classes at Noisebridge, and I've personally been teaching
> it
> > >> >> for the
> > >> >> better part of the last year and a half. I think it may be
> > >> >> time for
> > >> >> me to move on to other pursuits, but I'd rather not see the
> > >> >> class die.
> > >> >> Historically, Python class has been on Monday evenings
> from
> > >> >> 6:30 to
> > >> >> 8:00, but if anyone is interested in teaching it, I'm sure
> > >> >> he/she
> > >> >> would be welcome to reschedule.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> (Dan)
> > >> >> _______________________________________________
> > >> >> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> > >> >> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > >> >>
> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> --
> > >> >> wefoundland.com
> > >> >> _______________________________________________
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> > >> >> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > >> >> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> _______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
>
>
--
wefoundland.com
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