Learn Python The Hard Way - week 0

*** Update: we were able to find a place to accommodate a larger group (thank you so much Marina for your help in such a short notice!! *** However, we have to change the date to Friday. For this first meetup, you should bring your questions related to installing python in your machine (follow the instructions of exercise zero in the tutorial), and getting started in the sequence of exercises 1-17 (you will be working with a text editor and the command line).

Note: there is very limited parking at Hacker Dojo, you will be better off parking on the street, along Fairchild. I hope to post a sign at the entrance, so you can find us there.

Concerning the subsequent meetups, stay tuned for good news, we're receiving a wonderful collaboration from the community!

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Are you a Python beginner? Do you have “learn python” in your wish list, but haven’t quite dived into it yet? Or you’ve started learning but find it hard to maintain a good pace through solo study? Then join us in a structured series of group study, and have all the basics of python under your hood in 5 weeks!

We will follow the “Learn Python the Hard Way” free online tutorial by Zed Shaw, a very popular resource for complete beginners. We will assign a set of lessons for each week, which you should work with during the week preceding the group’s meetup. The ideal is to try to work at least a little bit every day, even if just half an hour. Zed Shaw has recently talked in a pyladies event, and the set of lessons chosen per week follows his observations on which lessons students typically get stuck. The pace is reasonable but requires dedication. However, it’s OK if you prefer to set your pace, too!

Also, if you start working with LPTHW, and decide that you prefer to use other resources, feel free to do so! We will help you set up goals for the 5 weeks, if you want. Or simply join us on Thursday nights, and work on anything python-related. These meetups are open to everyone.

The first meetup will be deemed “week 0”, and before attendance, you should at least try Exercise 0 of the LPTHW tutorial, so you can be helped with questions/problems by the study group:

Week 0 : Install python in your machine, install a text editor, and master at least the basics of CLI (command line interface), as the tutorial teaches you to work in the terminal/shell. You probably already have python in your machine if you’re using a Macbook. Here are other useful links about CLI:

http://cli.learncodethehardway.org/book/

http://lifehacker.com/5633909/who-needs-a-mouse-learn-to-use-the-command-line-for-almost-anything

http://ryanstutorials.net/linuxtutorial/

Finally, here is an overview of the LPTHW program (you should have covered much of the material before each meetup to make the most of it):

Week 1: Exercises 1 – 17

Week 2: Exercises 18 – 33

Week 3: Exercises 34 – 45

Week 4: Exercises 46 – 52.

Happy learning!