Python SIG, was: [Centralug] Me-Toism and Ruby
Bill Sconce
sconce at in-spec-inc.com
Fri Dec 31 16:19:00 EST 2004
OK, let's talk about Python at 6:30(*). Hey, ANYTIME is a good time.
What I was thinking was based on a number of half-baked, nascent
ideas - that is, just to send a tickler about what interest other
folks might have. As much as I've come to love Python, there's
always another thing or two to learn - and learning things in Python
is as much fun as you can have in front of a computer monitor.
One specific half-bake is the idea of finding a computer lab where
a group might grope around with Python. That could be anything from
an ab initio tutorial to a seminar-style development "sprint" (the
kind of thing they do at PyCon, although at PyCon you have to bring
your own computer). There would be at least a couple of labs which
we might hope to use. I have a preliminary inquiry in for one in
the Concord area; another possibility would be Daniel Webster.
(A Python lab can run perfectly well on Redmond machines. Gas masks
can be issued at the door for GNHLUG members. But students could be
invited - perhaps cleverly mentioning "hey, kid, just try one taste,
you don't have to know that this stuff is Free Software". Heh.)
Also, it would be fun to exchange ideas and experiences. I've taught
Python courses several times now, and every time there's been someone,
or several someones, who taught ME, especially in GNHLUG. (Hey, would
anyone like to talk about Cheetah, and explain why/if templating
frameworks are a good idea?)
Working along with a book... very interesting, for a group who'd
already have a lot of computer smarts. Mark Pilgrim's book, "Dive
Into Python", recently made it into print, and is addressed to folks
who already have some experience. The great thing about a seminar-style
program is that it can guarantee a certain level of coverage which OJT
doesn't. Seminar style also means that the pace can be made very
flexible, even down to session-by-session "curriculum" development.
(Right, Ted & Bruce?)
One more half-bake: a heckle contest? E.g., Python vs. Perl vs.
Ruby vs. C++ vs. Groovy vs. Java vs. whatever. David could defend Ruby,
I'd be happy to defend Python... surely someone will step up to
take heckling over Perl. (OK, so maybe C++ and Java are beneath
heckling. :) JOKE! All in good fun...
Happy New Year'ly yours,
Bill
(*) That's 6:30 Monday, January 3, 2005, Panera in Concord, before
the Centralug meeting. Not being there doesn't mean you'll be left
out, though - we'll see to it that [David] writes up a report. :)
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 15:04:38 -0500
David J Berube <djberube at berubeconsulting.com> wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> My fault about the migration - lol. Anyway, I'm definitely up for
> meeting @ 6:30. As you alluded to in point #2, perhaps backing the idea
> up a bit would be good - maybe a scripting languages UG or even a
> software development group? That would enable us to attract attention to
> Python more, as well as talk about scripting languages in general, and
> give us a strong user base to start from.
>
> One idea I'd like to integrate into CentraLUG that might work well for
> such a group: Short, ten minute book reviews/synopsises from members
> during a meeting.
>
> It'd be extremely nice to introduce some Microsoft developers to
> scripting concepts - I know that personally I've had excellent success
> mixing Microsoft technologies with scripting languages. I'm also, as I
> said, very interested in learning more about Python - and about software
> development in general; I don't think there's anywhere around here to
> discuss Agile or Extreme methodologies, except perhaps SWANH, but I
> don't think that's covered by them very often.
>
> FYI all, books and other swag from O'Reilly are in - might give away one
> on Monday.
>
> In any case, I'm definitely up for 6:30.
>
> Take it easy,
>
> --
>
> David Berube
> Berube Consulting
> djberube at berubeconsulting.com
> (603)-485-9622
> http://www.berubeconsulting.com/
>
>
> Ted Roche wrote:
>
> > Somehow I think our discussion migrated from the GNHLUG group to the
> > CentraLUG group mailing list. I've taken the liberty of addressing all
> > of the "me, too" people individually.
> >
> > I'm also interested in a Python SIG. I've seen this done a couple of
> > different ways, and want to toss out some ideas to see if any might work:
> >
> > 1. Arnold Bilansky, an activist in the groups that meet in Waltham,
> > and former Boston Computer Society board member, created a LearnVB
> > group years ago, and then the group spent a year working their way
> > through a book, chapter by chapter. This had some advantages for folks
> > willing to take a year to learn, and forced everyone to read the
> > chapter, but feels too slow to me. But a book study group might be a
> > great idea, perhaps on a different time schedule.
> >
> > 2. Guy and I had a lot of success a few years ago with an "early"
> > session where we spent 12 monthly meetings discussing "How an Idea
> > Becomes An Application," walking through the processes of
> > investigation, negotiation, data gathering, design, testing,
> > documentation, construction and deployment for a commercial
> > application. Run from 6 PM to 7 PM before the "main" meeting, they
> > attracted a crowd.
> >
> > 3. Other UGs I know have a "Newbie" session for a half-hour to an hour
> > before the main meeting.
> >
> > I have the impression that this group spans that range of experience:
> > I know Bill has commercial Python experience, and Christopher has some
> > pretty impressive discussions of RDF/FOAF on his site. I know David
> > did the Win32 GUI portion of AmphetaDesk. Guy is completely new to
> > Python while I have been dabbling part-time through online tutorials
> > and the O'Reilly books.
> >
> > I would welcome the opportunity to get together to discuss how we
> > might get a group going. CentraLUG meets this Monday from 7 PM to 9 PM
> > in Little Hall on the NHTI Campus, room 233.
> > http://www.nhti.net/frames_Map.html, marked as "K" on that map. Can we
> > try to meet at 6:30? Earlier?
> >
> >
> > On Dec 31, 2004, at 8:00 AM, guy Pardoe wrote:
> >
> >>>>
> >> I'd definitely be interested in a Python SIG or UG.
> >>
> >> Take it easy,
> >>
> >> David Berube
> >> <<
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Hi Dave,
> >>
> >> I have a high interest in this too. I'm an application developer and
> >> while
> >> it's interesting learning about a broad view of packages and/or
> >> issues in
> >> the Linux environment, my real interest is in learning how to develop
> >> business applications on Linux (and even better if it's portable to
> >> Windows).
> >>
> >> Python looks like a VERY worthwhile language to know and to use for this
> >> purpose.
> >>
> >> What would be some next steps in order to get something going with a
> >> focus
> >> like this? Assuming sufficient interest, would this need to be a group
> >> different from the existing Centralug?
> >>
> >> Guy
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Centralug mailing list
> >> Centralug at mail.centralug.org
> >> http://mail.centralug.org/mailman/listinfo/centralug
> >>
> >>
> > Ted Roche
> > Ted Roche & Associates, LLC
> > http://www.tedroche.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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