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To: python-list@python.org
From: Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu>
Subject: Re: Early retirement project?
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 12:34:44 -0500
References: <a354ccd7-8f1a-411d-b5ae-0f6fd8343f3b@googlegroups.com> <20140121053801.60f8cf11@bigbox.christie.dr>
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On 1/21/2014 6:38 AM, Tim Chase wrote:
> On 2014-01-21 00:00, xeysxeys@gmail.com wrote:
>> Well, I retired early, and I guess now I've got some spare time to
>> learn about programming, which always seemed rather mysterious. I
>> am using an old mac as my main computer, and it runs os x 10.4 is
>> this too old? It fills my needs, and I am on a fixed income and
>> can't really afford to buy another. I think python would be a good
>> starter language, based on what I've read on the net.
>
> It's certainly a great way to consume lots of hours :)
>
> Mac OS X 10.4 should come with an older version of Python
> out-of-the-box.

Someone else said that it comes with 2.5. That will be fine for many 
purposed. If you do use that, always make any classes you define a 
subclass of 'object' if nothing else. In other words,

class MyClass(object): ...
# instead of
class MyClass: ...

In Python 2, the second gives you an 'old-style' or 'classic' class. You 
do not need to learn about those. In Python 3, both forms give you 
new-style classes, which is what you should learn.

There are a few other obsolete features to avoid, such as using strings 
for exceptions.

> The install media should also include XCode if you
> want to download the latest & greatest version of Python and install
> that from source instead.

If you can do that easily, I recommend starting with the latest Python 
3, especially if you want to work with non-English (non-ascii) characters.

-- 
Terry Jan Reedy