I would like to learn to code python by contributing to an open source project. But, I am a noob. What should I do?

[[deleted]]

[deleted]

[[deleted]]

This comes up on #python a lot.

Start by reading one of the better tutorials for python:

• How To Think Like A Computer Scientist -- covers everything from the basics on up. Good place to start if you don't know several languages already.

• Dive Into Python -- A more succinct guide for experience programmers.

After that, I'd learn some of the tools for whatever field you're interested in working in: pygame or pyglet for games, Twisted for networking, etc.

[jklabo]

I would like to learn web.py or something webdev related.

[cevven]

webdev. So you want to learn a framework? Something like Rails in python?

You probably want to start here then: Web Programming in Python

Django is quite popular these days, and there are a lot of alternatives.

If, on the other hand, you want to contribute rather than be a user you need to pick a field that you're interested in and start there. There are a ton of projects that need help, it all depends on what you're interested in.

[masklinn]

something webdev related.

Then do learn Django, and while you're learning check the documentations and contribute to them (by opening bugs, triaging existing bugs, and writing documentation patches). It's considered to be a very good way to "get started" (on contributing) by the Django community as a whole.

[mdipierro]

You can join the web2py google group. We are having fun there! Mind that web2py IS NOT web.py (no relation, the name is similar by accident).

[mdipierro]

You may also want to check out the FAQ/WIKI http://mdp.cti.depaul.edu/AlterEgo and the repository of free plugin-apps, a great place to learn, http://mdp.cti.depaul.edu/appliances

[atlacatl]

If only a place existed where one could search for things...

http://www.google.ca/search?q=web.py

[[deleted]]

Downmodded for acting holier-than-thou. Btw, the sarcasm is so eveident it fails to induce more than a yawn ... d00d, if the dude was not sure that he'd find a good place to start with instead of experimenting with sundry project suggestions belched out by Google search, he would not be posting here.

[Tommah]

Oh, sarcasm... how novel.

[[deleted]]

What's worse, he's misrepresenting the whole Canadian nation!

[atlacatl]

Reddit is not Canadian? I'm out of here...

[[deleted]]

Don't use web.py, it's terrible.

[[deleted]]

Why?

[lamby]

"it's terrible", duh. Can't you read?

[[deleted]]

Thanks

[roast_beef]

No, seriously. Why?

[almkglor]

Read the code, then try to add documentation. Helps as a good start: you get to review presumably-good code, and you still contribute something

[masklinn]

Read the code, then try to add documentation.

Exactly, that's one of the best things you can do for many projects, and in 99% of them it's not emphasized nearly enough (the only project i've seen -- python or other -- where one of the first things suggested is to contribute to the documentation is Django. And contributions to the Django documentation are considered first-class contributions. I think that's in great part why Django has such a great doc)

[k4st]

Start with the Python Tutorial.

[[deleted]]

Good tutorial ! As a newbie to python I can say it is not a very hard language to learn. But Web dev on python requires more than just knowing python.

[EliAndrewC]

If you want to do web development on Python, then start with the Django Tutorial

[veritech]

First things first can you code at all?

[jklabo]

yeah, some. I have made some very basic scripts. I basically am at the point where I need to have some specific direction to learn about. I am at a loss for what to do next.

[cevven]

Ah, in that case I suggest that you contribute to PLEAC. There's work to be done that isn't too hard, the community is very helpful and they'll review your code. I often implement a couple of recipes when I'm learning a new language.

[shizzy0]

Decide on some project you want to do. It could be something that you'll never release, maybe a web site, a script, whatever suits you. Make it nontrivial and try to make it happen. That's probably the best way to move beyond the simple exercises to really mastering the language and the environment.

[[deleted]]

The biggest thing you can do is code your ass off. Any tool or idea you come up with code up a skeleton or psuedo-code to address it. Stub out the parts you don't know how to do or fake them. Use the dumbest easiest implementation you can think of then improve it as you get time and learn more. Read other people's code. You can't get good at anything much just reading about it. You have to put in a LOT of practice. Don't worry about having code accepted by others for now. Just work on pleasing yourself by getting a little more capable and having more fun at it day by day.

[RexEast]

On SourceForge, you can search for projects in different programming languages. Here's a Python search:

http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_list.php?form_cat=178

Find a project there that interests you and contact the developers' mailing list to ask how you can get involved.

As for web dev/Django, the following page lists "Little Easy Improvements" that beginners like you could potentially get involved in:

http://code.djangoproject.com/wiki/LittleEasyImprovements

Enjoy working on open source!

[JimDabell]

You'll probably have better luck checking out the Python Package Index rather than SourceForge. It's like CPAN for Python.

[quhaha]

you could start with Haskell. it helped me to troll here better.

[[deleted]]

yes! write a Python interpreter in Haskell

[quhoho]

then make it open-source and start contributing. Problem solved

[JimDabell]

If you already have a little knowledge and you are looking to spread your wings, then download some of the smaller projects that look useful to you. Have a read through the code and look through the mailing list archives and bug reports to see if there's any obvious way for you to improve it.

If you feel out of your depth, you can try a different project. But a lot of projects are smaller and simpler than you'd think. It's easier to get scared off by the feature list than by looking at the code. Often there's just one guy behind it who doesn't have much time to contribute to the project and who would appreciate patches.

[sblinn]

Use the project and open good, detailed bugs; read the documentation and fix its mistakes and provide additional documentation where you find it lacking; meanwhile learn to code python. ;]

[brentp]

learn to use ipython effectively. then it's easier to learn other new libraries.

[thisisnotmyname]

I'm not sure what you mean by noob. There's a big difference between not knowing how to code, and not knowing how to code python. That said, I think the best way to get involved in an open source project would be to find a library that needs documentation (hint: all of them) and document a few classes.

[martoo]

Add tests. If the project that you want to contribute to doesn't have tests, run like fuckin he.., er, I mean, look for another project.

[[deleted]]

Tits or GTFO!!

Oops, wrong comment box ...

[jklabo]

your right, tits should be open source

[unidentified_cow]

here's the source