I am hoping to take some programming classes at UH or KCC next semester. I'm
trying to learn
Python/Plone/Zope, but am interested in anything relating to computers (preferably Linux/open-source).
I don't find any CS like classes at KCC. The closest I found at UH is
ICS 415, but it appears to be Java+Javascript+a smattering of XML and HTML.
HOSEF held a PHP class taught by a local wizard (Kevin English) once,
but I've never been able to get them to repeat the class.
I'm pretty versed in Python, Plone and Zope. Python's pretty easy to
learn but you won't find courses which teach it. Courses don't tend to
teach dynamic scripting languages exclusively. They tend to stick to
the safety languages of C++, Java, etc...
I'd recommend learning Python or Ruby. I wouldn't recommend learning
Plone or Zope. There's a big learning curve and it's terribly
"unpythonic". It's a very large framework. Zope3 will hopefully change
this but the latest Plone v2.1 is built on Zope2. Plone has its
advantages in that most of the building blocks for a CMS are there so it
gets you up and running fast... When it comes to extending Plone...
It's not fun.
As you're starting out, learning a dynamic language like Python/Ruby can
be self taught using online resources or books. I'd recommend a lighter
weight framework.
Namely for Python: TurboGears, Django, etc...
For Ruby: Rails
You could also learn PHP, Perl, etc... Again, these you can largely
teach yourself.
If you're going to be more fully into Computer Science then you're on
your own to coming to your own conclusions.
I also heard something about a local Ruby users group?
Google finds this:
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.ruby/browse_thread/thread/6e7a429efaf8946e
Anthony Eden (http://allthings.mp/) is a good guy. I met him at
TPOSSCON last year (we also saw each other at O'Reilly's ETech). Turns
out I know his brother (Darrin), who lives in Portland (via Portland's
"community wireless" group.)
I'm interested in finding, or forming a local LISP users group, but
after 30 years of 'C', perl, tcl, C++, FORTRAN
and a heap of things you probably haven't heard of,, all but LISP is
crap to me. Ruby and Python are but weak forms of LISP with
crutch-like syntax 'helpers' (neither has macros (in the LISP sense of
the word), nor will their 'syntax' allow same).
Perhaps there should be a more general Software Development/Dynamic
Language/Web Development user group?
It would be tough to form a LISP user group but if there's a more
general one, if there is enough participants for a particular sub-group.
eg. You find that there are 20 dedicated PHP programmers, then maybe
that group can fork and create their own user group?
Julian
