Poll: Your programming experience

[praetor_alpha]

I should have expected I'd get a warning for that post. It's a shame really. I think I got my message across.

As for jobs using Python, thankfully I'm in academia (working towards a PhD) which not only has a widespread use of Python, but anything I write is primarily for personal use (models, simulators, parsers).

Also, Python is becoming more and more common in Linux.

But I get your point, coding jobs in the industry mostly revolve around either .NET (C#) or Java.

Why would you think you'd get a warning? I don't think that posting images here is frowned upon...

I agree, Python is good for those little personal problems that need a simple programmatic solution. I wrote a downloader app once. Sure, I could have been cool and done it in bash or something, but... Python!

And I will count on it: the next big language everyone will get all excited about will have curly braces and semicolons. It's time to get language syntax out of the 1970s.

There's only like two companies around here that had python related job postings when I looked around a month ago. My dream job will use Linux and Python (at least in some way) at a small company. Isn't that what all the cool kids are using in their startups nowadays, or is it all Ruby now? (LOL!)

 

[Esotera]

Sounds like a lot of people are actually getting paid to program, you're all very lucky. Just read through this morning for a few more replies, and a quick announcement for Python programmers who might be interested in some open-source work:

Spoiler: Announcement

I have a project on sourceforge, the aim of which is to help the end-user revise for exams by creating quizzes, that mostly revolve around images. It's becoming quite time-consuming, and really needs a few more contributors/developers. This would be development of original features/maintenance/creating scripts to generate data/anything you think would work well.

So if you're interested, just message me for further details - previous experience isn't necessary.

I did some microwave when I was a student. But now I've got someone else taking care of this stuff.

What's microwave? Can't say I've heard of it.

I'd really like to learn how to, but I honestly don't know how to start. I've tinkered with Python, and even managed to buy some books on it, but whenever I read it I can't get past the incomprehensible jargon. I took a class last year in high school, and it taught me some basic concepts, but it was very limited, and not dealing with abstract concepts that are present in professional programming. Like I said, I'd love to learn, but I can't find anything that's truly entry level.

It does take a long time to get if it's your first language. I'd say your best bet is just trying out a few of the example programs, and a lot of trial and error until you finally get things working, then gradually attempting harder & harder things. The python docs (in the OP) are brilliant - chapters 3-5 should get you going.

+1 too bad jobs using it are few and far between.

I should have expected I'd get a warning for that post. It's a shame really. I think I got my message across.

As for jobs using Python, thankfully I'm in academia (working towards a PhD) which not only has a widespread use of Python, but anything I write is primarily for personal use (models, simulators, parsers).

Also, Python is becoming more and more common in Linux.

But I get your point, coding jobs in the industry mostly revolve around either .NET (C#) or Java.

A small list of companies who use Python [http://kencochrane.net/blog/2011/12/what-are-the-best-python-companies-to-work-for/](don't forget google)!

 

[smithy_2045]

I fucking hate programming so much. So mundane, so much trial and error, and often no indication of what the fuck just went wrong.

 

[Esotera]

Why would you think you'd get a warning? I don't think that posting images here is frowned upon...

I agree, Python is good for those little personal problems that need a simple programmatic solution. I wrote a downloader app once. Sure, I could have been cool and done it in bash or something, but... Python!

And I will count on it: the next big language everyone will get all excited about will have curly braces and semicolons. It's time to get language syntax out of the 1970s.

There's only like two companies around here that had python related job postings when I looked around a month ago. My dream job will use Linux and Python (at least in some way) at a small company. Isn't that what all the cool kids are using in their startups nowadays, or is it all Ruby now? (LOL!)

There was a warning because there wasn't any text to go with the image. Personally I think Google's Go is a pretty good candidate for the next big language - gigantic support behind it, a pretty weird design, and most importantly, semicolons and braces (I think). And everyone knows it's impossible for cool kids to use Ruby

 

[achilleas.k]

Why would you think you'd get a warning? I don't think that posting images here is frowned upon...

Low content post. From the Escapist Code of Conduct:

Pictures, Links and Videos
These will all be considered low content posts if not accompanied by a well thought out opinion, debate or reasoning. Pics, links and videos should help to strengthen your stance or opinion, not the other way around.

Can't really appeal when it's clear like that. Anyway, back to the topic!

I fucking hate programming so much. So mundane, so much trial and error, and often no indication of what the fuck just went wrong.

I understand that programming isn't something everybody can love. Even people who know how to program don't necessarily enjoy it. But saying it's "just trial & error" and not knowing what goes wrong probably means you're not really good at it. If the way you program is by trial & error, maybe you should try another language, approach or just reading the documentation. Sorry for assuming stuff about you, I mean no offence, just saying how it appears.

 

[praetor_alpha]

I fucking hate programming so much. So mundane, so much trial and error, and often no indication of what the fuck just went wrong.

I'm in your app, settin breakpoints and lookin at your vars.

 

[Pinkamena]

I have had an introductionary class for Java, that's about it. It was fun, but its not something I wanted to continue with.

 

[achilleas.k]

I'd rather that than have the whitespace semantics of Python, which reminds me rather more of the programming languages of the 1950s - namely, the bad old days when FORTRAN was king. The fact is that things are based on C because C proved itself to work. C doesn't need a 1,000-page manual to learn (neither does Python to be fair, but their tutorial materials still don't come near K&R for sheer elegance), it's proven itself on myriad platforms, all the way from microcontrollers to supercomputers, and it's displaced plenty of languages along the way, including Lisp and Pascal. Java, Python, Ruby, Perl, Lisp, Haskell, C# and the rest can't be used to code elevator controllers at the same time when they're used to code desktop operating systems and the underpinnings of the most powerful computers in the world.

I understand the that Python's whitespace-significant syntax is unappealing to most, but I personally learned to work with it and it serves its purpose well, namely, forcing readability and proper indentation. I like it.

Personal preference aside though, you are right that C is the most widely spread, powerful and optimal languages to use, but all of the above features come at a price. It's hard to master, it's not portable and it doesn't serve all purposes. My 30-line parser (or any other quickie script) in Python is not as fast as it would be in C, but it took less than an hour to write, it can run on any PC with the python interpreter (including my Android phone if required) and it's easy to read.

C hasn't "displaced" anything, not in the sense you seem to imply in your post. There's plenty of room for every other language in that list and although C could handle everything they can, it's just not practical for most "everyday" cases.

I'm not disagreeing with you directly here, just trying not to lose focus of what purpose every other language besides C serves. No one would argue that coding a kernel in Java or Python is a good idea (even if it were possible), but the fact that I can move my simulator library around as a JAR file between Windows and Linux PCs is worth much more to me than the performance gain of recoding it in C, especially if I want to distribute it to colleagues without hassle.

 

[willis888]

DOS based, 2-player tic-tac-toe with a score board to track wins; written in C++

 

[smithy_2045]

I fucking hate programming so much. So mundane, so much trial and error, and often no indication of what the fuck just went wrong.

I understand that programming isn't something everybody can love. Even people who know how to program don't necessarily enjoy it. But saying it's "just trial & error" and not knowing what goes wrong probably means you're not really good at it. If the way you program is by trial & error, maybe you should try another language, approach or just reading the documentation. Sorry for assuming stuff about you, I mean no offence, just saying how it appears.

It's not that I can't do it, I just hate it. I don't mind the more specialised math/stats stuff I have to use like MATLAB and SAS because I have a good idea what I'm trying to do, so finding what went wrong is slightly less of a chore. But when I was doing basic Java programming I couldn't stand it, hated every moment of it.

 

[lonesome killer]

Where's the option for TI 83+ calculator programming? I made little games and math apps in high school, stuff like a list of all surface area and volumes of spheres, cylinders, cones, etc... where you input the variables like height and it would solve for you.

 

[Sampsa]

In junior high shcool I took a course in visual basic and spent some weeks doing hello word programming. That course didn't light the flame for coding.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

I understand the that Python's whitespace-significant syntax is unappealing to most, but I personally learned to work with it and it serves its purpose well, namely, forcing readability and proper indentation. I like it.

I prefer the ability to indent my code as I see fit.

Have to agree, I tried getting into python but the reliance on whitespace as syntax control was a HUGE turn off for me.

whitespace/indentation should be used for organization, not control.

I don't really get the 'forced readability' aspect, Python code I've seen tends to look pretty messy and unorganized, especially in larger files.

 

[UnendingLight]

I know some DrRacket and C++/Visual Basic.

Not really much atm. Hoping to improve as I start taking more CS courses next semester.

 

[Aurora Firestorm]

Yeah, I took MIT's 6.001 class. I actually liked the *class* proper, but I hate functional programming. What in hell do you mean, I can't change a variable? I started with Java in high school. I don't want your set!.

Er, anyway.

Wait, I know quite a few people who program in Haskell, and they seem to be quite pleased with how much they're getting done.

 

[Talshere]

I was forced to do a module on coding for a program called Matlab. Im going an MSc in Applied Marine Geoscience and apparently we had to do it because it is good practice in industry to have some familiarity with atleast 1 coding language....
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I actually wrote a letter to my MP suggesting given how key computers will be in the future that the curriculum is changed to include some basic mandatory coding lessons so that at least people wouldnt be running into this blind.

I passed the module with like 59-62% (60% is the 2:1 boundary in the UK or a B I guess) but if I were to retake it now with no prep time Id fail so hard.