On Sun, Nov 3, 2024 at 11:55 AM Steve Litt <slitt@???> wrote:
>
> o1bigtenor said on Sun, 3 Nov 2024 06:55:25 -0600
>
>
> >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.
>
> The preceding is a true statement. Read on.
>
> >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).
>
> I agree with your preceding sentence. My 2012 Jeep Patriot has a weak
> little 2.0 liter engine. But because of its 5 speed manual
> transmission, I can keep up with most vehicles up to 45 or 50 miles per
> hour, which is fast enough for me to easily merge onto all but the most
> busy freeways.
>
> So your first assertion is true from pure logic, and your second
> assertion I agree with.
>
> BUT, I strongly believe that people should learn to drive on automatic
> transmissions, and then, once driving is muscle memory, *then* learn to
> drive a stick.

Hmmmm - - - - there is NO muscle memory in driving an automatic. It is
really easy to spot a driver who has only driven an automatic when they're
in 6 inches of fresh snow - - - - the wheels are spinning wildly and they're
not going anywhere - - - before too long there are tears. That's where a
manual transmission would have taught you to start in a higher gear at
lower rpm with NO spinning and you would be just fine once you're
going. But people love the all I have to do is step on the gas (lack of)
thinking. In garbage conditions I need a manual - - - an automatic will
only make things more difficult!! (Except its almost impossible to find
a vehicle manufacturer that makes one any more - - - there is that appeal
to the masses bs you know!)

>
> This is part of two of the things I live by:
>

> 1) The Rapid Learning Process
>     https://www.troubleshooters.com/bookstore/rl21.htm
>     (See the flowcharts)

>

> 2) Do the easy stuff first
>     https://www.troubleshooters.com/tpromag/200008/200008.htm

>
> If I've understood your part of this thread, this will be your first
> foray into programming other than shellscripts. If you start with
> Python, you get an easy intro into arrays, structures, key/value
> collections, branching, loops, subroutines, classes and objects.
> Learning these things in C (where the closest to a class is a type with
> grouped data and pointers to subroutines) you encounter all sorts of
> compile time limitations and runtime gotchas.
>
> [snip]
>
> >Oh well - - - on with the learning (Python, C, R, Ada and shell
> >scripting) - - - argh - - - - what a mountain!!
>
> Your first language is the hardest. Each additional one is easier to
> learn. Just do one step at a time and you'll be fine.
>
Likely - - - found it that way with 'human' languages although my mentor
(that I've referred to) said that he could program in over some 50+
languages and couldn't get out of english - - - oh well - - - lol.

Thanks for the encouragement!!!

Regards