On Sat, Nov 2, 2024 at 5:08 PM Steve Litt <slitt@???> wrote:
>
> o1bigtenor via Dng said on Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:24:05 -0500
>
> >In the beginning stages of learning how to program.
> >
> >My mentor had advised that I seriously consider Python - - - but - - -
> >looking at the slow processing
> >time and the impetus provided by this group I have been working on
> >learning C.
>
> Python and C don't substitute for each other. Python is the ultimate
> programming Swiss Army Knife and C enables lightning fast software for
> situations where human interaction isn't the bottleneck for the
> software. Another necessity is to learn the POSIX tools such as grep,
> sed, AWK, cut, sort, etc, because a combination of those tools can whip
> digest, narrow and partially sort and format a huge bunch of info, to
> the point where you can use Python or C to go the last mile.
>
> Python is much easier to learn and use than C, so I'd start with
> Python, just like if you were first learning to drive I'd suggest you
> start with an automatic transmission before learning how to use a stick
> shift and clutch.
>
Can't comment on the differences between learning Python and C but I can
tell you that if you learn to drive using a manual transmission you won't have
to 'learn' how to drive using an automatic. IMO the flexibility of a manual
transmission way outweighs any much convenience of the automatic (I vastly
prefer a manual transmission is poor driving conditions). Then when one is
talking about manual transmissions - - - what about double clutching and
split transmissions (not uncommon in heavy vehicles although no longer as
common as they were some 40 or more years ago).
Should I be here specifying that I'm road legal for pretty much anything driven
on a road except for a couple of endorsements and motorcycles (and have
more than a few hours in a variety of off-road pieces of equipment as well)?

Looking at my comment - - - wonder if that might be similar in software - -
except there is a discipline in a manual transmission that doesn't seem to be
present in C although C is supposed to have the flexibility.

Oh well - - - on with the learning (Python, C, R, Ada and shell scripting) - - -
argh - - - - what a mountain!!

Thanks to all for the input and assistance!