Path: csiph.com!usenet.pasdenom.info!weretis.net!feeder1.news.weretis.net!feeder.erje.net!eu.feeder.erje.net!xlned.com!feeder7.xlned.com!news2.euro.net!newsgate.cistron.nl!newsgate.news.xs4all.nl!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail Return-Path: X-Original-To: python-list@python.org Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org X-Spam-Status: OK 0.052 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 0.90; '*S*': 0.00; 'subject:Python': 0.05; 'modified': 0.05; 'developer?': 0.09; 'language,': 0.11; "wouldn't": 0.11; ':-)': 0.13; 'steve': 0.13; 'language': 0.14; '24,': 0.16; 'debugged': 0.16; 'distinct': 0.16; 'from:addr:rosuav': 0.16; 'from:name:chris angelico': 0.16; 'so!': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.17; 'written,': 0.17; 'developer': 0.19; 'feb': 0.19; 'bit': 0.21; 'fairly': 0.21; 'second': 0.24; 'header:In- Reply-To:1': 0.25; 'am,': 0.27; 'coding': 0.27; 'language.': 0.27; 'set.': 0.27; 'message-id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.27; 'run': 0.28; 'probably': 0.29; 'code': 0.31; 'choosing': 0.33; 'impression': 0.33; 'to:addr:python-list': 0.33; 'languages': 0.33; 'that,': 0.34; 'program,': 0.34; 'received:google.com': 0.34; 'exist': 0.35; 'received:209.85.220': 0.35; 'received:209.85': 0.35; 'something': 0.35; 'really': 0.36; 'but': 0.36; 'why': 0.37; 'received:209': 0.37; 'subject:: ': 0.38; 'some': 0.38; 'to:addr:python.org': 0.39; 'think': 0.40; 'your': 0.60; 'decision': 0.60; "you've": 0.61; 'first': 0.61; 'time,': 0.62; 'different': 0.63; 'differences': 0.65; 'learned': 0.65; 'sounds': 0.71; 'score': 0.75; 'yourself': 0.77; 'gain': 0.79; '2013': 0.84; 'belt,': 0.84; 'comparative': 0.84; 'perspective,': 0.84; 'simmons': 0.84; '+1000': 0.91; 'hardest': 0.91 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:x-received:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id :subject:from:to:content-type; bh=3b70OrhO6ucEoePVXidfpAWPDrvhY+63Z4Iv8MIbH6E=; b=rVyqe2xmN79FgvELB4ugiR/Jk0wyAEJ/ww6PeBO2/8WldCVnj+t+41jB6Q1t2ZjgSI nEFJpXLcPC9C4Xk/CbIPoZ1Vl2DkERniwAUwfhSnyZUSymPXdAZl4xM0WUpg1it9TF9v vEbbycOuewzsTjAGODiinp8P2YFGSRvcc29WoJvUnwHuPKscvd1GfzGMGCHeLm0rBWQg iIY7GdsxoTY2/H5P1rayHDGry5/YK7oU17Kc8pk19WVWWo3knB40nba0Sv2ELMr5mU8y TACvd+uLb3yIOx8IZdxDMHLd1KK/tCGDsYm6XC5Cbqnvdd9Hv+FgyWhQxPDBbUbQTc7r tPnw== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.52.88.197 with SMTP id bi5mr6608745vdb.58.1361634718230; Sat, 23 Feb 2013 07:51:58 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: <5128E38D.3050005@gmail.com> References: <5127848B.1060004@gmail.com> <928d2cf7-728b-4f35-b8c9-4c9b958507e5@googlegroups.com> <5128E38D.3050005@gmail.com> Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2013 02:51:58 +1100 Subject: Re: Python Newbie From: Chris Angelico To: python-list@python.org Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.15 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Newsgroups: comp.lang.python Message-ID: Lines: 27 NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6 X-Trace: 1361634721 news.xs4all.nl 6905 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:53683 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:39677 On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 2:43 AM, Steve Simmons wrote: > I get the impression that you are a developer of some experience on a single > language. I wouldn't call myself a developer but I have written, modified > and/or debugged software in upwards of 20 languages and, from that > perspective, I would say that the second language you learn is probably the > hardest for the simple reason that you have to put away a bunch of learned > prejudices and learn a whole new set. After three or four, you start to see > the commonalities and differences and 'get' why they exist and you find > yourself with a new set of learned prejudices :-) but you also gain the > perspective that some languages are good at 'this' while others are good at > 'that'. +1000 When you learn your first language, you think you're learning to program, but that's not really accurate. Once you've learned half a dozen, you begin to understand something of the art of coding as distinct from any particular language; after that, you can learn any language fairly easily. Steve, why do you say you're not a developer? A score of languages under your belt, choosing to write code in your spare time, and speaking competently on the comparative merits of different languages and why you made the decision you made - sounds like you're every bit a coder. Don't run yourself down so! :) ChrisA