On 2024-11-03 12:55:44, Steve Litt 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.
>
> 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.

That might be one reason why I'm so good at learning programming
languages. My first programming language was APL. There's reasons it's
called a write only language. Need a special character set and matching
keyboard / punch cards / OMR cards, though I think it's in Unicode these
days, which didn't exist when I started.

--
A big old stinking pile of genius that no one wants
coz there are too many silver coated monkeys in the world.