[IAEP] [support-gang] Quick Question

[Caryl Bigenho]

Hi Sebastian,


Thanks for the reference to "A Byte of Python."  I had it downloaded on my computer... on the hard drive that had a fatal crash on the ferry from Montevideo to BsAs.  I guess I had better download it again onto the new hard drive.  It sounds like it has the info I need to get started.


I was hoping I could just use the Khan Academy videos to get a running start on Python.  I figured since I used to be pretty good at programming in the old languages (Fortran, BASIC, and Pascal) that it would transfer easily to Python once I got all the terms and syntax down.


Then I ran into a wall... the need for an editor.  I just need a simple, easy to install and use editor and everyone was very helpful in suggesting things, but none were what I would classify as easy to get started on.  Oh well, I kept telling Adam there were no shortcuts to learning a language (Spanish), I guess this applies to computer languages too!


Yes, Christofer is pretty amazing.  I didn't actually meet him when we were there, but I have followed his progress and accomplishments with interest.  


Thanks again for the suggestion... now I'm going to download Byte of Python, then I guess I'll go for DrPython.


Caryl

Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2011 06:50:42 +0500
From: sebastian at somosazucar.org
To: cbigenho at hotmail.com
CC: support-gang at lists.laptop.org; iaep at lists.sugarlabs.org; quozl at laptop.org
Subject: Re: [IAEP] [support-gang] Quick Question


  


    
  
  
    I was going to recommend DrPython and found this document, a chapter
    of the book "A Byte of Python":

    

    
          
            
              
                "Choosing an editor
              
            
          
          Before we move on to writing Python programs in files, we
            need an editor to write the 'source' files. The choice of an
            editor is crucial. You have to choose an editor as you would
            choose a car that you want to buy. A good editor will help
            you write Python programs easily, making your journey more
            comfortable and helps you reach your destination (achieve
            your goal) in a much faster and safer manner.
          One of the basic requirements of a good editor is syntax
                highlighting where all the
            different parts of your program are colorized so that you
            can see your program and
            visualize how it will run. This also means that you should
            avoid Windows Notepad especially because it doesn't support
            indentation. Indentation means neatly formatting the program
            with the use of whitespace (spaces and tabs) at the
            beginning of the line to make it easy to read the program.
            We will soon learn why indentation is important in Python.
          There are various development environments and many editors for Python available. In order
            to keep things simple, I recommend using the DrPython development
            environment. It is pronounced as doctor-python. It is
            called a development environment since you can edit, run and
            manage Python programs completely within DrPython. An
            interesting note is that DrPython itself is written in
            Python.
          First, we shall install DrPython."

          
        
        He proceeds with instructions to install on all three major
          platforms:

          http://dsnra.jpl.nasa.gov/software/Python/byte-of-python/output/byteofpython_html/choosing-editor.html

          

          Incidentally, Christofer, the boy I think you and I met in
          Montevideo, sugarized DrPython, so it works well with the XO
          as well:

          http://activities.sugarlabs.org//es-ES/sugar/addon/4427

        
      These uruguayan kids never cease to amaze me.

    

    Regards,

    Sebastian

    

    El 06/08/11 05:49, Caryl Bigenho escribió:
    
      
      
        Hi...
        

          
        I must be doing something wrong:
        

          
        >>> idle
        Traceback (most recent call last):
          File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
        NameError: name 'idle' is not defined
        >>> 
        

          
        This is where I am in Terminal:
        

          
        
          Python 2.7.2 (v2.7.2:8527427914a2, Jun 11 2011,
            14:13:39) 
          [GCC 4.0.1 (Apple Inc. build 5493)] on darwin
          Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more
            information.
        
        

        
        Caryl
        

        
        > Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2011 09:34:25 +1000

          > From: quozl at laptop.org

          > To: support-gang at lists.laptop.org

          > CC: iaep at lists.sugarlabs.org

          > Subject: Re: [support-gang] Quick Question

          > 

          > In Terminal, type idle and press enter. You get Python's
          own editor,

          > with a Python shell that you can type into as well.

          > 

          > -- 

          > James Cameron

          > http://quozl.linux.org.au/

          > _______________________________________________

          > support-gang mailing list

          > support-gang at lists.laptop.org

          > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/support-gang

        
      
      

      
      

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