Intro to CS, Python-style

[afuna]

zvi pointed out an interesting community: intro_to_cs.

The community is for people following along a series of lectures from MIT (all information freely available online). And it uses Python, which I have been meaning to pick up.

No programming experience necessary.

I am nervous because it's been a while since I did anything even remotely resembling the rigors of academics. Classes! Study! Lectures! Commitments! Stuff! But I am excited, too.

Comments

[kareila]

That's interesting. When I took that class in 1997, it was taught in LISP, which was generally understood to be the One True Language for teaching programming theory, despite the fact that it was of little use in the Real World (although I found it very useful on MU*).

[jadelennox]

I had no idea they had moved away from LISP as the One True Language. Next thing you will be telling me that Wesleyan has moved away from Scheme!

I have to admit I am sympathetic to the idea that programming classes are best taught in languages which have less immediate practical value. That being said, I've been meaning to learn Python for ages, so I think I'm going to sign up for this. Who knows if I will make the time, but it's a good plan.

[kareila]

If I had any use for Python right now, I would totally sign up. But I'm trying to learn JavaScript, and it's probably a bad idea to study more than one new language at a time. :)

[exor674]

lol, those online courses... Those make me end up watching the entire thing in one setting and then noticing "hocrap, it's 5am"

[draigwen]

Hmmmm... I may have a look too. I've just jumped into using Python, because Rat has evangelised it so much. I think following along with the course might help me make sure I'm not writing stupid code. And if others are following along with it then all the better!