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Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2014 15:43:48 +1000
Subject: Re: Python Programing for the Absoulte Beginner
From: Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com>
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On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 3:20 PM, Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
> On Sun, 3 Aug 2014 15:12:02 +1000, Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 3:11 PM, Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
>>>>You're looking at a Python 2 book, and you're running Python 3. I
>>>>would recommend instead getting a Python 3 tutorial:
>>>
>>> Or do as I did, and install Python 2.
>>
>>Better to install and learn Python 3. Much better.
>
> I've got too big an investment in books on Python 2, and there are no books
> available on Python 3 (I don't regard downloadable PDFs or other onlines stuff
> as "books").

But there are plenty of courses for Python 3, and lots of people are
happy to take online information when learning coding. (Personally, I
can't be bothered with paper books at all. I get all my books online
if I possibly can... or even get both, pay for the paper one to
support the author, and then download it so I have something I can
actually read and search.)

Don't tie yourself to the Python branch that's not getting development
(bugfixes, some IDLE enhancements, but no new features) unless you
have a good reason to. For someone who's just starting out with
Python, learn Python 3. Don't bother going into all the debates; if
you have need of Python 2, you'll find out when the time comes; and
when it does, you'll be better placed for having learned Python 3.

ChrisA