Path: csiph.com!usenet.pasdenom.info!weretis.net!feeder1.news.weretis.net!feeder.erje.net!eu.feeder.erje.net!eweka.nl!lightspeed.eweka.nl!194.134.4.91.MISMATCH!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 0.036 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 0.93; '*S*': 0.00; 'interpreter': 0.04; 'subject:Python': 0.05; 'source.': 0.05; '(especially': 0.07; 'python': 0.09; 'throw': 0.09; 'thrown': 0.09; 'function?': 0.16; 'to:name:python list': 0.16; 'winner.': 0.16; 'appears': 0.18; 'input': 0.18; 'errors': 0.23; 'posts': 0.23; 'header:In-Reply- To:1': 0.25; 'appear': 0.26; 'message-id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.27; "doesn't": 0.28; 'concise': 0.29; "skip:' 10": 0.30; 'function': 0.30; 'on,': 0.30; 'stuff': 0.30; 'google,': 0.32; "aren't": 0.33; "he's": 0.33; 'to:addr:python-list': 0.33; 'received:google.com': 0.34; 'along': 0.35; 'clear': 0.35; 'faster': 0.35; 'feed': 0.35; 'community': 0.35; 'subject:?': 0.35; 'but': 0.36; "i'll": 0.36; 'does': 0.37; 'subject:: ': 0.38; 'skip:l 20': 0.38; 'some': 0.38; 'sure': 0.38; 'to:addr:python.org': 0.39; 'your': 0.60; "you'll": 0.62; 'deals': 0.62; 'fire': 0.62; 'worth': 0.63; 'skip:n 10': 0.63; 'learned': 0.65; '(according': 0.84; 'battle,': 0.84; '\xa0but': 0.84; 'subject:you': 0.88; 'not:': 0.93; 'picture': 0.96 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=aKU2vRT+2PHjxV+Bxw70KLaSJrltfX1DupNmnwFAClg=; b=vZG1zj8aqoUNNZ+fwq1NAE7RlheEXuZn0T5aK3Q/trKN+Bp5KdHSonKAtKvHq3r69d JgSg3ySJ3Wnk9xHr9Bn2BH2DWAdmHMr4D8c+zEp8u1kd22fz5oaEoilF16IFly53lN/P wdmbCKvC9Ryoiw2/ko/ifuvzXWOQ6/irCmBZxLrpvDLgncmOYMZUHDJNIJgIV9KC/vMl YKmuWp3Fe7+rg29/hCglgivQgn4vmXVUTXn6oiDCgEzjgXDKqEsPkZUeB6Y2tfM6lRx/ DcoaxVn8ZptGDdOvLa9gt7LFa8vaRaD7Q36ULv2vBc7sW8L096bEgraQ6vc1q4HOerrj QSJg== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.43.83.74 with SMTP id af10mr6904050icc.38.1361917043268; Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:17:23 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: References: <512cb0a0$0$30001$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com> Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:17:22 -0500 Subject: Re: Do you feel bad because of the Python docs? From: Jason Swails To: python list Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=bcaec5186aaa93eaac04d6a8053b 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: 63 NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6 X-Trace: 1361917045 news.xs4all.nl 6864 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:44771 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:40010 --bcaec5186aaa93eaac04d6a8053b Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Just to throw in my 2c -- in the same way that 'a picture is worth a thousand words', an interactive interpreter is worth volumes of documentation (especially one with such a nice help()/__doc__ functionality). It's worth pointing out that 'interpreter' appears in the original rant once (according to ctrl-F, whole thing was tl;dr): Want to know how the Python interpreter deals with input Y? Read the source. And so on, and so on. Not: "Open up an interpreter and input Y" You aren't sure what errors are thrown by a particular function? Fire up an interpreter and feed the function junk. You'll get your answer faster than you can Google, and often learn neat stuff along the way. (I recall one of RR's posts that actually had some good tips to learn-via-interpreter). Also, I'll bet the way I learned Python effectively would seem like nails-on-a-chalkboard to others -- and vice versa. The 'one-size-fits-all' doesn't work for documentation. Complete and concise often battle, with no clear winner. And his representation of the Python community does not appear to be representative of my experience (threads begun via trolling rants notwithstanding). But he's ranting on his blog; not a big deal really. --Jason --bcaec5186aaa93eaac04d6a8053b Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Just to throw in my 2c -- in the same way that '= ;a picture is worth a thousand words', an interactive interpreter is wo= rth volumes of documentation (especially one with such a nice help()/__doc_= _ functionality). =A0It's worth pointing out that 'interpreter'= appears in the original rant once (according to ctrl-F, whole thing was tl= ;dr):

Want to know how the Python interpre= ter deals with input Y? Read the source. And so on, and so on.

Not: "Open up an interpreter and input Y"

You aren't = sure what errors are thrown by a particular function? =A0Fire up an interpr= eter and feed the function junk. =A0You'll get your answer faster than = you can Google, and often learn neat stuff along the way. (I recall one of = RR's posts that actually had some good tips to learn-via-interpreter).<= br>

Also, I'll bet the way I learned Python effe= ctively would seem like nails-on-a-chalkboard to others -- and vice versa. = =A0The 'one-size-fits-all' doesn't work for documentation. =A0C= omplete and concise often battle, with no clear winner.

And his representation of the Python community does not= appear to be representative of my experience (threads begun via trolling r= ants notwithstanding). =A0But he's ranting on his blog; not a big deal = really.

--Jason
--bcaec5186aaa93eaac04d6a8053b--