[pythonvis] Re: FW: How to get started
- From: "Octavian Rasnita" <orasnita@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pythonvis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 2 May 2014 08:12:04 +0300
Python 3 has some advantages and some disadvantages.
Python 3 is out for many years, it has some improvements like a little better
unicode support, it does the math correctly so 5 / 2 = 2.5, not 2, like in
Python 2.7.
On the other hand it is slower than Python 2.7 and it doesn't have good enough
documentation.
I read an article saying that only ~ 3% of the Python users use Python 3, so
Python is stuck on 2.7 for a very long time.
This is not especially because of lack of documentation, but because Python
project never cared about backward compatibility and versions 2 and 3 are not
compatible.
While Python was a young project it was so nice to not care about backward
compatibility but change it to be as modern as possible because this way it
involved less work and headaches.
After a time when many projects were done in Python, the programmers started to
care about backward compatibility. They simply can't upgrade from Python 2.7 to
Python 3, because their programs would stop working.
Because of this incompatibility between 2.7 and 3, there are many Python
modules which are compatible only with Python 2.7, so they can't be used with
Python 3.
What's worst is that a year ago was the same, 2 years ago was the same, 3 years
ago was the same, and so on, and things don't seem to change.
A few years ago I thought that for a beginner would be better to start learning
Python 3 directly, because in short term it will replace Python 2.7, but an
experienced Python programmer told me that it would be more intelligent to
stick with Python 2.7, even if Python 3 is better in some fields. And now after
Python 3 was developed for years but is still not used much, I can say that he
was very right.
So I just told you about my experience, but is your decision what version you
will use.
--Octavian
----- Original Message -----
From: Drew Mochak
To: pythonvis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2014 5:07 AM
Subject: [pythonvis] Re: FW: How to get started
Out of curiosity, why are we learning Python 2.7 rather than 3?
On 5/1/2014 5:56 PM, Jeffrey Turner wrote:
Hello List Members,
We had our first meeting on Out-of-sight.net tonight, so I am reposting
this Getting Started email sent by richard Dinger for the new members. It may
seem like a lot to do just to get going, but if you take it step-by-step, it
really isn’t too bad.
JDog
***richard’s message:
For those new to programming and maybe even some just new to Python, I
found an on-line tutorial for beginners on programming using Python that might
help. If you want to go through the tutorial, you will need to set up your
computer first as described below.
Part 1: Getting set up
Before you look at the tutorial, you will need a few things. You need
python itself, a text editor program and a folder to work in. The following
steps cover how to get set up on windows. Note there are many ways to get set
up, this is just a quick setup for beginners that can be revised later.
1 Download the latest version of python 2.7x (about 15 meg) from
www.python.org/download
the filename will be something like python-2.7.6.msi
2 install python by executing the msi file. Note where you install it on
your computer for example at c:\python27.
3 You will need a text editor program and know how to use it. MS Notepad
comes with windows and is workable for the tutorial. Other editors will be
discussed on the list.
4 Create a new folder for trying examples in the tutorial, I will call it
tutor.
5 in your tutor folder put the following dos file named 'shell.bat' you can
edit the file with Notepad. Note lines beginning with rem are comments and may
be omitted.
rem begin shell.bat
rem replace c:\python27 with where you installed python
set path=%path%;c:\python27
rem change prompt to just the drive letter (optional):
prompt $N$G
cmd.exe
rem end shell.bat
Part 2: How to use your set up to write and run python scripts.
1 Navigate to your tutor folder.
2 Open your text editor and enter the following one line script, which
simply writes to the screen:
print 'Hello, world'
3 Save the file as 'hello.py'
4 Start your shell.bat file by hitting enter on it. Shell will prompt you
with something like:
C:>
5 Type the name of your python script 'hello.py' and enter.
6 You should get:
Hello, world
c:>
or an error message if there is a problem
7 When done for the day, you can close the shell command shell by enteering
'exit' after the prompt. The shell also has minor editing for example an up
arrow will scroll up through previous commands andyou can edit through arrow
keys, new text and delete.
You can also run your script by simply double clicking or hitting enter on
the filename in windows explorer, but when it runs windows will create a new
window, run it and close the window. That all happens so fast you will miss it
and any error messages.
Part 3: Take a look at the tutorial.
hetland.org/writing/instant-hacking.html
Richard
From: Charles Rivard
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2014 9:35 AM
To: learning python list
Subject: [pythonvis] something to remember
For those who have had experience with Python and other programming, try to
keep in mind that what's been sent to the list is foreign to those who haven't.
Thanks.
---
Be positive! When it comes to being defeated, if you think you're
finished, you! really! are! finished!
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