[Linux] REs, plus my Python adventure (tm)

[Tim Jones]

On Thu, Oct 12, 2000 at 08:48:17AM -0400, Dean Benson wrote:
> I'm not a coder in any respect.  Last time I did any coding I was maybe 14
> or 15 and that was BASIC in my C= bbs days ... :)

I started out programming on Ataris, Apple IIs and Commodores at 
a similar age (12), but I got hooked, and I have never stopped since!

BTW, I have getting hip-deep in Python as well (a new client requires it,
otherwise I wouldn't have taken the time myself).  I hated it at first too,
and I wish the documentation were more structured and hyperlinked like
Java's API and class documentation is, but it is really starting to grow
on me.  

I have subclassed the SimpleHTTPServer modules, and was easily able to
override the do_GET() method to make my own lightweight, custom webserver.
(It's basically a control panel for a video capture system - runs on 
Win32 and Linux, and needs to do nasty stuff as root: reboot, shutdown,
change IP addresses, view and change video card settings, etc).

Now I view Python in a similar way that I view Java: an easy way for
me to develop stuff that will run on Windows without me having to
pay hundreds for a Microsoft compiler, put up  with their lame/insulting
'project management' and IDE systems, or waste time learning their 
dead-end APIs (or guessing what they REALLY do).

In particular, I am finding dictionaries and tuples very helpful.  And I
*LOVE* the '%' operator: no more fprintf/sprintf/vsprintf/printf depending
on what you're going to do with the output!

	string = "I can count: %d, %d, %d" % ( 1, 2, 3 )

Some stuff still drives me up the wall, but I'm confident that I'll eventually
RTFM enough and get comfortable with most of the language.  I went through
the same processes with Java (the interface keyword was difficult for me),
and Perl (figuring out the differences between $arrays{'key'} and $array[numeric]:
associative vs. sized array).

> As I re-read the sections it sinks in a little more.  I guess I need to find
> more examples to look at so I'm going to buy the book this week from
> bookpool.  Thanks for the input!!

That's what they're there for - enjoy!

Tim
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 Timothy Jones - LinuxTampa.com - 813-65-LINUX
Open Source Programming, Databases & Networking
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