Why is Python a popular teaching language?

http://radar.oreilly.com/2015/04/five-reasons-why-python-is-a-popular-teaching-language.html

by ntoll • 11 years ago

10 6 11 years ago

radar.oreilly.com

ntoll3• 11 years ago

Hi, I'm the author. I submitted the article because I'm fishing for feedback. I'll be flying back to the UK from Pycon in a few hours but will try to reply to any / all questions and comments. Thanks!

tangue• 11 years ago

While Python in itself is very pleasant I had to admit that I was confused by all the pip/virtualenv thing.

What kind of environment would you suggest for beginners ?

mateo411• 11 years ago

I wouldn't worry too much about the pip and virtualenv tools. I would focus on learning the language, and building something that is interesting to you.

You will learn how to use pip, when you need to install a new Python library.

You will learn how to use virtualenv, when you share have 2 programs that use different sets of libraries, or you want to share(set up a dev environment) a program with somebody else, and you need to communicate the different requirements(libraries) for using that program.

panglott• 11 years ago

Pretty nice article!

The only thing I'd say is about your "extensibility" section. The value of this is a little abstract. After I learned programming Basic as a kid, I put it aside for a few years because I felt like I had "outgrown" Basic, and couldn't really do much interesting with it. Part of the value of Python is that it will "grow up" alongside your knowledge of it: you can program turtle graphics in Python when you're 12, or program your raspberry Pi, or build game mods, but then also know that you can use SciPy/NumPy when you go to college, or be able to use it in real, powerful applications.

How do you address Python 2 vs. 3 in advocating Python to kids?

ntoll3• 11 years ago

I'm with the Raspberry Pi Foundation (who are dropping Python 2 and moving completely to Python 3 in all their educational materials).

Why is Python a popular teaching language?

Related Stories