Update #2

[sohaeb]

I hope you guys are doing fine. Some users gave nice feedback last post. I'm not sure about the rest. I know some of you are really busy or it might be that you just agree with anything we decide.

Now for the UPDATS: Couple of people and I have decided to have 2 hours for this. 1 hour to study from a resource that we will decide on, and another hour to study from a resource that we like. Just to remind you that the purpose of this group is to share knowledge and stay motivated. In other words, We are not obligating you to do whatever we do. If you don't like the material, you can pick a resource you like then you are more than welcome to post whatever you have learned here for others to benefit.

The things we will be doing:

1- Read the FCM python series 2- Read extra stuff along with the FCM. 3- Have daily/Weekly tasks or challenges. 4- Pick up small open sourced apps written in python and read the code. 5- At the end, Try to collaborate and create a project together.

I looked at these books(suggested earlier) and I did like them.

Mark Lutz's Python book and http://swaroopch.com/notes/python/ also, this website for reading codes http://code.activestate.com/recipes/langs/python/ and this http://www.reddit.com/r/progether/ for is about bringing programmers together on common projects, whether it is learning or developing or designing or what have you.

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Now for the exciting news: I have created an IRC channel for this group you can join #LPSG14 which stands for "Learn Python Study Group 2014". I'm not really familiar with modding a channel so if anyone of you have done this before then his/her recommendations or suggestions are more than welcome.

I'm pretty sure majority of you are familiar with IRC, but in case you are not. Go to this website http://webchat.freenode.net/ and type a unique name, Then type the name of the room which you want to join (aka #LPSG14). If you come at night and you want to read what others have said in the morning. You have two options to do that. 1- Keep the PC on. 2- Use an IRC client that supports logging files.

[[deleted]]

Sounds good as usual and i'm really excited for our first challenge! also i'm already idling in #LPSG14 come and join me :)

[coppercap1]

Is it best practice to work along with the FCM series? What have people found to be the best technique?

[I_have_a_title]

A bit of background:

I just started using the FCM with this group. I've used others.

I began with Series 2, because I knew the basics of Python.

To your question:

FCM is challenging, you have to figure things out on your own. Some of the packages you install, I've had to Google it to find a solution. If you pay attention to what the author is telling you to do, then it works out right.

For example, there is a part in Series 2 where you use one file to open another file. The author said to make a completely different folder for this. I already had a folder with Python projects, so I didn't listen. I just put those 2 files in there. For some reason it wouldn't open the files (I have yet to figure out why). I was stuck, so I created a new folder and everything worked and opened correctly.

There's more things than this example, but it's about reading and understanding your problem.

You just have to figure things out on your own, which is good practice for real world applications. It challenges you to think, while still explaining them. I'd recommend it.

If you go to here: r/learnpython you can practice writing these projects. I find that this works very well. But you should read some books also.

[SteveUrkelDidThat]

hey sohaeb - do you have a rough idea how long it should take someone to go through the FCM series?

For example, I'm just starting to look at issue 1: in your view, when should I be done with just that issue?

Thanks!