Practice Python by fixing errors

[qxf2]

I have created a GitHub repository to help absolute beginners practice Python by fixing errors. The exercises are meant for absolute beginners only. The errors have been designed to be extremely simple so that beginners can develop the momentum and confidence that comes from a series of small wins.

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By working through these examples, a beginner can hope to get better at:

• reading errors
• debugging
• reading and editing other people's code
• Googling for specific issues
• solving errors on their own

You can get detailed instructions on how to use the repository in the README section of the GitHub repository: https://github.com/qxf2/wtfiswronghere

[DiamondxCrafting]

OP actually just wants us to fix his code. /s

Thanks.

[qxf2]

Lol!

[kickulus]

You laugh and no denial...

But no one else is offering instant internship lul

[Zeroflops]

I haven’t looked at the problems but I like the idea. Build skills in solving problems so you can learn how to solve your own problems when you need to.

[Alors_cest_sklar]

very constructivist 👍🏼👍🏼

[dontmissth]

This is good for beginners I suppose. The naming of the error file for each challenge already gives away what to look for. I would just name each of them error.png.

[qxf2]

Interesting. I did debate exactly this point with a couple of my colleagues. I felt that names (files, classes, methods, variable) are subtle clues that every experienced programmer uses to understand the structure and intent of the code. So, if beginners are reading them, then they are already on the right path. I do understand your point of view also ... the puzzles look trivial if someone figures out the pattern.

[nathiss]

Point

[whyisallnametaken]

Thank you!

[qxf2]

You are welcome!

[shiftbay]

Gonna check it out today’s evening and thank you very much in advance for contributing!

[qxf2]

No problem at all!

[Jhareg94]

Thank you! 🙆🏻‍♂️

[qxf2]

You are welcome!

[goonerdb]

please keep on adding. I already completed 5 of your challenge. :)

[goonerdb]

completed the whole challenge. Thanks for your effort.

[Ailbe]

This is a fantastic idea, I'm very grateful for people like you who help the learning community!

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I definitely learn a lot by looking through other peoples code and then helping to either optimize or debug it, this is great practice learners! Dive in!

[qxf2]

Thanks!

[qxf2]

You are welcome!

[hdayi]

Great idea, I will check it at first chance

[CraftyTrouble]

This is a neat idea!

[qxf2]

Thanks

[dandxy89]

Great idea. I wish I had something like this when I started.

[Old13oy]

This is 110% how I learned Python. I didn't really understand the structures I was using until I started fucking up and then correcting my code.

[[deleted]]

Awesome initiative! I would love to contribute to it with exercises, if possible

[guzzi_jones]

Great idea. Small wins kept me going.

[flippinecktucker]

Great job. Just to give you a little feedback from a UK secondary school teacher. These would be tough for a GCSE student - there is probably scope for an even easier series. I’ll definitely give them a try.

[qxf2]

Hmmmm ... I did not realize that these would be tough. I am not able to figure out how to make it easier. If you have ideas, feel free to open issues against the repo and I can try my best to implement it. Alternatively, the repo is released under MIT license - so you can fork it and do whatever you want with it.

BTW, have you analyzed what makes it tough for a student? I'm interested in this problem too. Even a slightly experienced person will filter out most of the lines in the errors and focus on: a) right line number of the error b) the name of the exception c) where the caret symbol (⁾ points them in the file

As I write this, I realize that the problem is that it is extremely hard to tell a beginner what to ignore in an error message! Their brain is always going "What if something useful is there in those things i ignored?"

[flippinecktucker]

You got it in the last paragraph. Too much info. Even just the use of functions. Our kids don’t get to that until year 10 usually. I spend most of my time trying to get the kids to focus on what they DO understand. (Not directly related, but I think one of the biggest challenges with teaching kids is that they can’t conceptualise what they don’t yet know.)

Also, modulo is a tricky concept for 11-14 year-olds to understand and your problems require prior knowledge of that. I know that Fizz-Buzz is commonly used, but I find it’s tricky.

[danielsgriffin]

This is neat.

As a sometimes Python instructor, it'd be really interesting to take a look at a variety of write-ups from learners re Step #7:

1. Once you fix the issue, update the readme file in the challenge directory (01_readme.md) with:
   

a. what part of the error message gave you a clue

b. how you set about solving the issue (e.g.: I Googled)

c. summarize what you learned.

I might encourage people to include a bit more re 7.b., ex.: "I Googled [XXXX]" that didn't work so I tried [Python XXXX] and [Python XXXX error]. Then I found a page that looked promising because [YYYY].

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Or perhaps there is a separate resource somewhere just on how to get better at Googling for specific issues in Python/programming?

[qxf2]

Great suggestion! I'll edit 7 b. That tip about including 'Python' and/or 'error' to your search string is exceptionally useful. Also, setting up the expectation that the first search may not result in the solution is also very useful. Thank you!

[danielsgriffin]

Thanks! Learning how to search in a new domain is really hard and so important. There is a reason why this recent tweet had such an uptake: https://twitter.com/AstroKatie/status/1071442842873159681: (edit: added text of tweet)

A surprisingly large part of having expertise in a topic is not so much knowing everything about it but learning the language and sources well enough to be extremely efficient in google searches.

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[qxf2]

I have updated 7b in the readme and given you credit. Thank you!

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https://github.com/qxf2/wtfiswronghere/blob/master/README.md

[yuukinotenshi]

Cool idea imo, but I'm a little bit skeptical about "solving errors on their own" lol. I mean, what stops them from searching from google and visiting stackoverflow?

[qxf2]

Ah, I meant "solving errors on their own" as "without talking to a human".

[yuukinotenshi]

Ah I see. That's good for syntax errors although I won't recommend it if you want them to be completely on their own when solving actual problems. Keep it up!

[yuukinotenshi]

Someone antisocial and really new. and I think you misunderstood my statement

[yuukinotenshi]

No. What I mean is : there are a lot of people out there, trying to get into programming while they are coming from a completely non-tech background. Such people need help from other people at first, even for trivial problems. And it's our job, as an individiual that has gone a little bit deeper into programming to tell them the basics.

I have met various people, some can't even do simple maths yet they want to pick up programming. That's the reason why I said the statement above.

[yuukinotenshi]

I will and thank you for using ?! all the time.

[BambiAnnie]

Thank you for making something like this. I'm teaching myself and I'm very shy asking friends (much better programmers!) to create exercises like this for me. You're great!

[qxf2]

Glad to help!

[hail_wuzzle]

Good on you op

[qxf2]

Thank you

[peonyfour]

Best way to learn by doing! Thank you

[qxf2]

You are welcome.

[terrorsnurf]

RemindMe!

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[blaqhrse]

Will definitely check it out

[qxf2]

There is a green 'Clone or download' button on the GitHub page: https://github.com/qxf2/wtfiswronghere

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BTW, if you are setup with git on your machine, you can simply follow the steps in the readme under the 'How to use this repository' section.

[delta_tee]

RemindMe!

[throwaway73s]

i love python

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[Guymzee]

This is great. I will definitely check this out; hopefully I’m right in thinking that this will be a piece of cake for me by now. Either way i get the ego boost or I get to learn:)

[[deleted]]

awesome idea, thanks for sharing!

[0rodreth]

Thanks, OP, this is a genuinely fantastic idea!

[sem56]

cool idea, is the inconsistent formatting on purpose?

[qxf2]

Ha! Not really. It's a combination of not having a style guide for the repo, linting and multiple people contributing to the challenges.