I Need Motivation Part 2

[blah]

i m currently in a network (LAN). i started python because i heard
that it has great ability for networking programs and/or scripts, but
i m losing my motivation with python because there are sooo many
modules, that i cant just learn them all, this deters from c or c++ in
which there are only a limited number of header files. what loses my
interest is that if i cant learn these modules, and there are lots and
lots of python modules, how can i ever be a good enough
programmer/scripter.

 

[bonono]

i m currently in a network (LAN). i started python because i heard
that it has great ability for networking programs and/or scripts, but
i m losing my motivation with python because there are sooo many
modules, that i cant just learn them all, this deters from c or c++ in
which there are only a limited number of header files. what loses my
interest is that if i cant learn these modules, and there are lots and
lots of python modules, how can i ever be a good enough
programmer/scripter.

Well, you better stick with python then. Forget about all those
modules, you would know what to use when the needs come up or ask by
then.

Python definitely has the momentum behind it for solving this kind of
real world problems and I would say the best overall
environment/language right now.

 

[bruno at modulix]

i m currently in a network (LAN). i started python because i heard
that it has great ability for networking programs and/or scripts, but
i m losing my motivation with python because there are sooo many
modules, that i cant just learn them all,

Why would you learn them all ? Learn the one you need when you need them
- jus don't forget to have a quick look at the existings modules before
reinventing the square wheel (I wrote a Q&D CSV parser before realinzing
there was a pretty good one in the stdlib... But what, my Q&D solution
took me laess than one hour to write and did what it had to do, so...)

this deters from c or c++ in
which there are only a limited number of header files.

In the stdlib, yes. Now there are thousands of librairies/frameworks
each reimplenting all the basic datastructure and algorithm (strings,
lists, hashtables, trees and the like), so you almost have to learn a
new language each time you use a new library.

what loses my
interest is that if i cant learn these modules,

Once again : you don't have to.

and there are lots and
lots of python modules, how can i ever be a good enough
programmer/scripter.

Like everybody else: write programs. That's the only way to become a
programmer.

 

[Sybren Stuvel]

blahman ([email protected]) enlightened us with:

i m losing my motivation with python because there are sooo many
modules, that i cant just learn them all, this deters from c or c++
in which there are only a limited number of header files.

There are over 2800 header files on my system in /usr/include. What do
you mean "a limited number of header files"?

Sybren

 

[Leif K-Brooks]

There are over 2800 header files on my system in /usr/include. What do
you mean "a limited number of header files"?

I assume he's saying that the number is < ∞. (Of course, the same is
true of Python modules unless you use a special __import__ hook or
something...)

 

[projecktzero]

i m losing my motivation with python because there are sooo many
modules

If you think Python has too many modules, then you better stay away
from Perl and CPAN. =)

 

[Rocco Moretti]

i m losing my motivation with python because there are sooo many
modules, that i cant just learn them all,

As other's have said, don't bother.

If you ever need to use a module that you don't know, just go to
http://docs.python.org/lib/lib.html (easily accessable from the
"Documentation" link on the Python Home page), or a local copy, and
scrounge around.

I might suggest skimming it once, to see what is possible, but it isn't
nessasary to "learn" it. -- Knowing that there is a Python module in the
standard library to do CSV/Date manipulation/MD5/etc is sufficient. You
don't even need to know what the module is called - a minute skimming
the TOC will point you in the right direction.

 

[Magnus Lycka]

i m currently in a network (LAN). i started python because i heard
that it has great ability for networking programs and/or scripts, but
i m losing my motivation with python because there are sooo many
modules, that i cant just learn them all, this deters from c or c++ in
which there are only a limited number of header files. what loses my
interest is that if i cant learn these modules, and there are lots and
lots of python modules, how can i ever be a good enough
programmer/scripter.

The standard libraries in C++ more or less ends where the standard
libraries in Python begin. There are needed to handle data structures
and algorithms in C++ that you don't need a single import to do in
Python. For C++ network programming, you'll probably have to search
the internet or buy something fancy, to get anywhere close to the
stuff you get in Python's standard library.

It seems you have a little writer's block. Don't try to learn and
understand everything before you start. If Python appears more complex
than C++, you must be using a really weird approach.

Just start with something small but useful. Try to solve a little
problem, and see that you can get some benefit from the time you
invest in Python. Make an effort, but don't be afraid to ask about
practical things if you get stuck.

Then you can expand your scope and horizons as time goes on. The
only think I advice everybody to read in the library reference is
chapter 2, the builtin stuff. Otherwise, start with libraries you
really need.

If you want to read more Steve Holden's book is good when it comes to
network programming, but there is another, newer book as well that I
didn't read. Actually, Alex Martelli's Nutshell book is probably enough
to get you started.

 

[Dennis Lee Bieber]

modules, that i cant just learn them all, this deters from c or c++ in
which there are only a limited number of header files. what loses my

Really?

I show 79 .h files and 68 "no extension" header files in the VC
"includes" directory. Another 9 under "sys", 9 more under "msclr", 20
under "cliext".

That's 168 cryptic includes -- cryptic as they only show calling
sequences and constants, with no explanation of what they do, or how to
use them.

There is another 731 .h files under "PlatformSDK"... And I've
stopped looking at that point -- that's already 900 header files!

interest is that if i cant learn these modules, and there are lots and
lots of python modules, how can i ever be a good enough
programmer/scripter.

I show 185 .py files in the top level Python library. That's a close
match for the base VC include directory -- and I be willing to bet that
site-packages and other add-ins don't add up to another 700 .py files

And these are source code files that can be studied to learn how the
stuff works.
--

 

[marduk]

If Python appears more complex
than C++, you must be using a really weird approach.

Or a really weird editor ;-)

-m

 

[Sybren Stuvel]

Dennis Lee Bieber enlightened us with:

I show 185 .py files in the top level Python library. That's a close
match for the base VC include directory -- and I be willing to bet
that site-packages and other add-ins don't add up to another 700 .py
files

Sorry, bet lost. I have 1891 .py files in my site-packages.

Sybren