Does anyone here know PYTHON (the programming language) or any others?

[GoVegan]

Can you elaborate a little bit as my jumping into this venture has really highlighted how little I actually know about computers. I have no experience with Linux and do not even know what a computer running linux would look like if I saw the screen. I am completely ignorant about how to run virtual machines and whatnot or how to make my machine Linux, can anyone point me to simple instructions on how to accomplish this?


From what I gather here, it is possible to partition my hard drive to allow linux and/or windows to run on my mac? If this si true than please tell me how I can accomplish this amazing feat, I know it is possible but never tried it. I tried installing linux on my PC last time per instructions from this forum but I ended up destroying the computer and losing all o fmy daughters videos and baby pictures and everything else to my name, so I am a little unsure about trying to instlal seperate operating systems on my laptop here. Is this safe to do? I odn't want to fry the whole computer like the last time I tried.



Is there a place I can go to learn all of this lingo? I keep trying to read help manuals but everything assumes you already know at least 20 other programming languages first or that you area computer scientist.

I tried a dual boot system before using Linux and Windows. Things might be better now but it can be a headache. I remember a while back there was a computer that tried to merge IBM and Apple but it never worked right. IMO, the best thing to do is have a computer dedicated for each operating system you use. The cool thing about Linux is it does not need nearly as much space as Windows and you can join several older computers together to make one larger system.

[captncaveman]

You could make a customized live distro of opensuse (make sure you add your python tool set to it) and just do a live boot from the disk. No installing what so ever.

[sgreger1]

Hey guys, it still keeps giving me syntax errors even after I change the quotes. Am I supposed to remove the quotes entirely or something? I am writing this in just a plain text file, same code that I posted above, it gives me a million syntax errors. Can someone here type out a small script that you KNOW works so that I can plug it into my interpreter and try it? That would be much appreciated!

[captncaveman]

try just typing it out. If that doesn't work the use the classic hello world that everyone seems to begin with.
print "Hello world" then save the file with the .py and run it and see if that even runs.
Email me a copy of your .py file so i can look at it. I can also send you a couple sample files your way and see if they run properly.
lanny.gilbertson@nov.com

[sgreger1]

I had a personal project in 2009 where I was programming a text-based object-oriented Yahtzee game in Ruby. It was going pretty well, but I stopped long before the game was completed.

Tim

Can you guys help me understand what "object oriented" means? What makes OOP's different than other types of programming languages? Python is object oriented, right? What are the advantages/disadvantages of this over other types?

[GoVegan]

Can you guys help me understand what "object oriented" means? What makes OOP's different than other types of programming languages? Python is object oriented, right? What are the advantages/disadvantages of this over other types?

Are you still trying to trade your bike in for an AMC Gremlin?

[sgreger1]

Are you still trying to trade your bike in for an AMC Gremlin?

Lol, Whatever that was a reference too went completely over my head.

[GoVegan]

Lol, Whatever that was a reference too went completely over my head.

I was trying to reference the nerd thing but AMC Gremlin might be a bit outdated by now. I took some VB courses in college but that is probably outdated by now as well. It was fun though.

[captncaveman]

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm using "objects" – data structures consisting of data fields and methods together with their interactions – to design applications and computer programs.

OOP isn't language specific its more of a "Style" of best practices if you will. I wouldn't spend to much time at the moment trying to wrap my head around this.

[captncaveman]

I was trying to reference the nerd thing but AMC Gremlin might be a bit outdated by now. I took some VB courses in college but that is probably outdated by now as well. It was fun though.

Not true at all. There would be many new features and advances in visual basic thats for sure, but in essence its the same language.

[sgreger1]

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm using "objects" – data structures consisting of data fields and methods together with their interactions – to design applications and computer programs.

OOP isn't language specific its more of a "Style" of best practices if you will. I wouldn't spend to much time at the moment trying to wrap my head around this.

Sweet, that makes enough sense for now. So I have IDLE running right now and it seems to be working okay. I havn't tried importing anything, but if I type it in to the command line it works good. I am still a little confused though, because to go to the next line and to execute the code is the same key (enter, right?), so if I type something that is more than a few lines in the tutorial it gives a syntax error. Is the only way to do it to load a .py file and run it?


Also, is there any one book about python or how to structure things properly that you would recommend?

[sgreger1]

I was trying to reference the nerd thing but AMC Gremlin might be a bit outdated by now. I took some VB courses in college but that is probably outdated by now as well. It was fun though.

Did you find VB hard or was it pretty easy to pick up?

[captncaveman]

just for shit and giggles did you install python on your mac or did you use the pre-loaded set of tools on your mac? I have also got a few responses from some mac python guys saying you may need to install and config python yourself, but don't remove the preloaded python on your OS since some system utilities will need that version. Also they mentioned there could be a conflict with the pre-installed dev tools and IDLE. They also mentioned Leopard's Xcode environment supports python development try using this instead of IDLE.

[GoVegan]

Did you find VB hard or was it pretty easy to pick up?

I thought VB was amazing especially compared to the old style Basic. You can do all kinds of stuff with it and GUI's are a breeze and they look clean. It is also fairly easy to learn. The only drawback is that the enterprise edition of VB was fairly expensive but they do have a student version our for a reduced cost.

[ratcheer]

Can you guys help me understand what "object oriented" means? What makes OOP's different than other types of programming languages? Python is object oriented, right? What are the advantages/disadvantages of this over other types?

Yes, Python is object oriented. Basically, it refers to a construction where everything a program deals with is an object that not only has value, but also "understands" methods that deal with it. For instance, 2 is not just a number, when instantiated in a program it also "knows" how to add another number to it, how to print itself, etc. Then, programming becomes an exercise in sending proper "messages" to objects to accomplish the needed tasks. Also, it is the design and construction of higher level objects and methods. I am sure this is as clear as mud.

Here is a reference: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ed_programming

Tim