[Noisebridge-discuss] The future of Python class at Noisebridge
Robert Fletcher
lobatifricha at gmail.com
Tue Oct 5 19:54:52 UTC 2010
I'm not a huge proponent of TDD, but I went through a Ruby/Rails
course where the tests were written for us and we learned by writing
the code to satisfy them. It actually turned out to be a lot of fun and
I learned a lot about Ruby in the process. Though, it must, of course,
be emphasized that test-passing code hardly constitutes feature
complete code.
On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 12:36 PM, jim <jim at systemateka.com> wrote:
>
> I love the idea of little tests, maybe very small
> (fifteen-minute) feature-specific hands-on exercises
> and maybe some alternate problems that are meatier
> (I'm not much into games; I like the idea of working
> with third-party modules).
>
>
>
> On Tue, 2010-10-05 at 12:22 -0700, Laura Khalil wrote:
> > Hey Adit,
> >
> >
> > I took Dan's class when he just got on board (over a year ago) and
> > really enjoyed it. I haven't been back in an age, but glad to hear
> > you're thinking of keeping it alive.
> >
> >
> > One thing about Invent with Python: Al does a great job of giving an
> > overview of Python. However, the book is written for kids, so
> > everything is spelled out -- there's little to challenge the adult
> > user to try and figure things out on his own. Personally, I find this
> > critical to my understanding of a programming language.
> >
> >
> > I still think it's a great book, but may be better served if it could
> > be supplemented with test questions/homework problems to apply what's
> > learned.
> >
> >
> > Laura
> >
> > On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 11:36 AM, aditya bhargava
> > <aditya at wefoundland.com> wrote:
> > 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 outdated and he hasn't had time to update it.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
> > > >> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > > >> >> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> > > >> >> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > > >> >>
> >
> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > >> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> > > >> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > > >>
> >
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> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > wefoundland.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> >
> >
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>
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