[Bradford] Re-learning coding

[Bernard Czenkusz]

Hi there -

As a general purpose language I'd suggest Python - it's easy to learn, 
and has a huge library of support modules, for example see 
http://docs.python.org/3.2/library/markup.html for its documentation on 
parsing xml.

Python can initially be learned without using objects, but as soon as 
you do anything serious, then an understanding of objects is necessary - 
though they're not particularly difficult.  The language has both simple 
constructs - conditional loops etc., as you say, and also advanced 
features that can be used as you improve - glance at 
http://scipy-lectures.github.io/advanced/advanced_python/

I'm biased though - I'm a total Python fan, been programming in it for a 
long time, and it fits my brain.  To be fair to other languages - they 
all have their strengths.  I used to go to Bradford LUG, but haven't 
been for a while due to moving to Sheffield, but remain lurking here. I 
could do a talk on Python in the new year if there's a demand,  either 
an intro to the language -  or perhaps on the more advanced topics such 
as using objects.

Cheers

     - Bernard Czenkusz


On 16/11/13 10:38, Andrew Coulson wrote:
> Good morning everyone,
>
> It's been a while since I made it over to a meeting, but hopefully I 
> will manage to get over again in the New Year. In the meantime I've 
> got a few ideas I'm working on that convince me I need to get back in 
> to doing some coding.  Mostly I'll be tinkering around at the command 
> line to try out different algorithms or ways of dealing with data (eg 
> parsing XML in various ways).  I know I could use shell scripts for 
> some of that, and may well do so, but want to think about taking it 
> further and perhaps using a browser to present the results of whatever 
> I'm doing so I can stay as platform (and OS) agnostic as possible.
>
> My programming experience stems from the eighties - BBC Basic, Pascal, 
> some C, but mostly coding in 8 bit microcontrollers based around the 
> 6802.  So I have the fundamentals of conditional loops and such like, 
> but entirely missed out on object orientation and graphical interfaces.
>
> Can anyone suggest a good language to update myself with, that could 
> be applied to the ideas above? Also any suggestions of good resources 
> to support the gaps in my knowledge?
>
> Thanks for your suggestions, and hopefully see you all after Christmas
>
> Andrew Coulson
> email: coulson.andy at gmail.com <mailto:coulson.andy at gmail.com> | tel: 
> 07834 269850
> *Ryburn TextWorks* <http://www.ryburntextworks.co.uk> - Proofreading, 
> Copy-editing, Writing
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>
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>
>
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