Python from scratch – Google class

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Python from scratch – Introduction

Welcome to my journey, Python from scratch – Google class

Let’s start with some introduction

I work 14 years in the High-Tech industry as QA doing manual testing in a manager position.
After so many years I reached a point where I want to do something else.
Maybe to write some code as I planned for myself in the past but somehow life led me to a different path in my career.
Last time I wrote some code was at university about 10 years ago and since then I only maintained some scripts mainly Perl and Basic.
So I start reading some Hacker-News posts and Job listening ads to see which language is needed today.
Asking myself what will be easy for me to restart my code skill after so many years out
Finally, I read this post by eddy chan and found myself fit into this story and decide that I will learn Python.
I hope my journey will inspire others like me to do the same.
I hope my journey will eventually make me controlling the language.
And I hope this journey will create for me new opportunities to come.

Python from scratch – Google class

So I clicked the first link that leads to Google’s Python class and here it is my journey into python from scratch using Google Class:

First Lesson – Google python class

The first tutorial page is, of course, the Landing Page.
Doesn’t need any skill yet, takes a few minutes to read.

The second lesson – Python Setup

Took me around 2 hours.
The reason was technical.
Since I thought to run it on a Virtual-Box setup,
But somewhere in the middle, I realized it won’t be comfortable to run notepad++ and command-line on one screen.
So I better use my 2 wide screens on my desktop. 
Installing Python was easy and fast and I was ready my next challenge.

The third lesson, Introduction

I Read about Python Interpreter (Nice feature) and did some debug like tricks,
Also, read some notes about Python compare to other languages.  
Later I did the first examples from this page and found myself thinking how easy it is compared to my c++ studies in U of TLV (OpenU). 
My first real obstacle was understanding the boilerplate __name__  ==  ‘__main__’
Between you and me, I still not really understand why it is so complicated but I am a good student and do what I was asked to do.
After reading some forums I understood why and how important is to use indentation correctly
and that Google recommends using <space> for better indentation,
I prefer to use <tab> as I see the spaces better and clearer.
Anyway, reading this section and let the info drill into my brain took me some time and effort.
After a while was late at night.
I knew that in a few hours my 2 baby boys will wake up for a new day that needs my full attention and so I called it the night and went to sleep (finally).
Next day I was more excited than the day before and couldn’t wait for the night to come.
After work and after putting my 2 boys to sleep I opened the next lesson.

The fourth lesson – Starting page

This is actually the first page that was dealing with real code, handling strings and manipulate them. 
Also learned the if Statement which is very important for any code. 
It took me to learn this page for around 3 hours and then I call it the night.
After finished to learn strings I felt ready to do my first exercise- 
7 functions which I was asked to write.
I decide to do it early in the morning when I am awake and not tired after a long day at work and dealing with my children.
So I took the exam on Saturday (Shabbat) and to my surprise finished it after 2 hours successfully.
And now I am here, tomorrow probably I will start the next issue to learn- Lists.
So far my impression from Python is that it is an easy language for beginners,
It is an easy language to convert from C++ as I did.
And that I find the internet very helpful with questions I had during my studies so far.
Stay tuned for more lessons to come from Python from scratch – Google class

python from scratch - google class
python from scratch

30/Jan/2012- Click here for Part 2

19 thoughts on “Python from scratch – Google class”

  2. I would also recommend to look out at 50apps.org

    The main idea around 50 apps is to improve coding by working on 50 apps for 50 weeks. most of the people working on the projects are beginners just like you and me and I would definitely recommend to work on atleast some of them.

    Reply

  3. Interesting. I basically am in yhe process of doing the same thing. MIT has a great ocw python class, im half done. Also check out project euler. Doing those problems is fun and forces you to really learn proper syntax. .. forced practice.

    Reply

  6. i'm also learning pyhton/django. i've knowledge on c++, java , RoR and they really helpful in letting me to understand python very well.

    Reply

  7. You should also checkout http://codingbat.com/ its developed by the same instructor that did Googles Python Class, Nick Parlante. Like anything in life if you want to get better at something it requires practice, practice, practice.

    The site gives you a chance to work through problems from a beginner level and you slowly level up as you complete the different exercises. It links you to documentation for each section as well which is great if you forget how to do a If statement, list, or defining a function, etc.

    Good luck in your quest, don't get overwhelmed, small increments leads to great success.

    Reply

  17. I got so many comments and read so many links, thanks guys.
    Now i really should continue on my studies and will report next time.

    Keep on following and don't forget to drop me a note/comment.

    print 'Thanks HN'

    Reply

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