Path: csiph.com!usenet.pasdenom.info!news.etla.org!news.stack.nl!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed2.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!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 0.023 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 0.95; '*S*': 0.00; 'programmer': 0.03; 'okay': 0.09; 'rewrite': 0.09; 'tackle': 0.09; '"hello': 0.16; 'costs.': 0.16; 'from:addr:rosuav': 0.16; 'from:name:chris angelico': 0.16; 'preserved': 0.16; 'programmer,': 0.16; 'right;': 0.16; 'throw': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.18; 'code.': 0.18; 'finished': 0.19; 'thu,': 0.19; 'primary': 0.26; 'header:In-Reply-To:1': 0.27; 'point': 0.28; 'chris': 0.29; 'am,': 0.29; 'message-id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.30; "i'm": 0.30; 'code': 0.31; 'easier': 0.31; 'that.': 0.31; 'probably': 0.32; 'says': 0.33; 'agree': 0.35; 'but': 0.35; 'received:google.com': 0.35; 'next': 0.36; "i'll": 0.36; 'should': 0.36; 'project': 0.37; 'product.': 0.38; 'to:addr:python-list': 0.38; 'to:addr:python.org': 0.39; 'most': 0.60; 'new': 0.61; "you're": 0.61; "you'll": 0.62; 'here': 0.66; '20,': 0.68; 'learn.': 0.84; 'toy': 0.84; 'absolutely': 0.87; '2013': 0.98 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :content-type; bh=vcPwHzQFY2ja5rAtx3QFsiY1JpaOxy1sZbflWVjS1Dk=; b=l3L6m0ecY1LtVyMzVjVx17QTjBLARPqr0akr3BayEBVawVNM6DZPyWSRMPjtExtcC/ Y8GnjydJ50Xi0Mx+G8eMiKnc0ZR/GtcygRRAVmFVvMXXVDVTlN1VdOF6ekpZTLJDUZsd 4k+YOZRqaeIViPmMbpWzyxr1+coJDyVDWoRyNsKh4mPSdOYB0msv3qyvWpEISoE9t5Aa jDQod77+XJVP7Re+nA36tCP4GuVwFUojYOSi+zUAXvRVb9W6cJGFg8gFueD0dT2G118G A1vGWdiF978PGBs1YNfsoaLRoLGs9NlE7FrBb2bjmQEi2qViKwYEJ1JbV9qa3263PRfO B2sg== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.221.4.4 with SMTP id oa4mr922774vcb.70.1371661318074; Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:01:58 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: References: <8a4fced2-7d6c-455e-a482-b6f95b806ab5@googlegroups.com> Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:01:58 +1000 Subject: Re: A Beginner's Doubt 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: 23 NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6 X-Trace: 1371661708 news.xs4all.nl 15973 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:38455 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:48733 On Thu, Jun 20, 2013 at 2:53 AM, Joshua Landau wrote: > Now, as I'm probably the most new programmer here I'll point out that > I don't agree with Chris when he says that: > >> One way or >> another, you will probably spend the next week writing code you throw >> away; if you try to tackle the primary project immediately, you'll >> have to rewrite parts of it as you learn. It's easier to throw away a >> toy "Hello world" program than hunks of what you thought would be your >> final code. > > As a new programmer, you will throw away code whether or not you > practice beforehand. Beware of that. If anything, it's the best thing > you can do*. Yes, you will throw code away; but you'll throw away less of your finished product if you write code that isn't destined to be part of your finished product. But you're absolutely right; code should never be treated like children, to be preserved at all costs. It's okay to change your mind and scrap something. ChrisA