2008/8/21 Kent Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 12:01 PM, Dotan Cohen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> 2008/8/21 Kent Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: >>> Chapters 2 and 3 of the library reference are highly recommended. >>> http://docs.python.org/lib/lib.html >> >> Let's start from there. I need the startswith() function, but I do not >> know it's name. I search for "strings" and find this: >> 4. String Services >> * 4.1 string -- Common string operations >> o 4.1.3 String functions > > and somehow you missed > # 3.6.1 String Methods > # 3.6.2 String Formatting Operations > > which even should have come first in your search.
I remember passing on String Formatting Operations, but String Methods went right past me! >> But on that page, this is all there is: > <snip> > > But the *very next page*, called "Deprecated string functions", links > to 3.6.1 which is what you want. I did not look at depreciated functions because I want to learn the language that is, not the language that was. Why would I learn a function that will likely be removed soon when I can learn the proper replacement function? >> So Python has only two string functions? That's what it looks like. > > I think it looks like you are not trying very hard, or that you are > letting your expectations color your search too much. I am trying moderately hard, and I am letting my expectations color my experience. That's how I bugtest KDE, *buntus, and Fedora, and that is how I approach any new project. I make 90% effort and I ask about the other 10%. >> Is there any place to suggest >> improvements to the docs? I see on the python.org site it is suggested >> to email website bugs to the site admin. Does that go for the docs? > > At the bottom of every page in the docs it says, "See About this > document... [link] for information on suggesting changes." I conveniently did not read the footer of the page I was on, instead I grepped 10 pages starting from the homepage! Naturally... > Specific > suggestions for improvement are more likely to be well received than > complaints. Naturally, so long as I know the information. I don't file 'this sucks' bugs. > I guess I am a little defensive here, I think the docs are pretty > good. That's fine. I know that many a flamewar had begun in a similar vein, and even I feel that I am treading over troll-laden bridges when I mention these issues. > It's true that beginners don't realize that so much meat is in > the library reference, I'm not sure how to make that more obvious. That's why I asked to whom to suggest. It's easier for beginners to say "this is what I tried" than for the experienced to try to think like a noob. > But > your particular problems in finding endswith() in the LR I think come > from you wearing PHP-colored blinders. That may be. I know that I will have to make an effort to acquaint myself with the Python docs. Part of that effort is forgetting what I already know. Thank you for your suggestions and your patience. -- Dotan Cohen http://what-is-what.com http://gibberish.co.il א-ב-ג-ד-ה-ו-ז-ח-ט-י-ך-כ-ל-ם-מ-ן-נ-ס-ע-ף-פ-ץ-צ-ק-ר-ש-ת ä-ö-ü-ß-Ä-Ö-Ü _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - [email protected] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
