Announcing the "Invent with Python" Bookshelf
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
I've organized a large collection of free and non-free books on a new part of this site: The Invent with Python Bookshelf.
Why is Object-Oriented Programming Useful? (With a Role Playing Game Example)
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
This blog post is those still new to programming and have probably heard about "object-oriented programming", "OOP", "classes", "inheritance/encapsulation/polymorphism", and other computer science terms but still don't get what exactly OOP is used for. In this post I'll explain why OOP is used and how it makes coding easier.
IDLE Reimagined
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
IDLE Reimagined is the project name for a redesign for Python's default IDLE editor with focus as an educational tool. IDLE's chief utility is that it comes installed with Python, making it simple for newbies to start programming. But professional software developers don't use IDLE as their IDE. Instead of turning IDLE into a sophisticated IDE for professional software developers, it can be tooled with features specifically to make it friendly to those learning to program.
No, Seriously, Why Should I Learn to Code?
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
The geeks have inherited the earth. A couple decades ago if you talked with friends in a chat room, you were cast as a socially-awkward nerd. Doing the same today just means you're a typical Facebook user. Broadband Internet connections and smartphones have taken the Information Age that technically started in the 1970s with PCs and pushed it into daily mainstream life.
Don't get me wrong: You should learn to program. But lost in this hype is a plainspoken reason: NO, SERIOUSLY, WHY SHOULD I LEARN TO CODE?
"Let's Create Software" Tutorial: Bus Routes Overlaid on Google Maps
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
I had the idea to use Google Maps' API to draw out a map of all the Muni routes. This would have the benefit of the system map PDF but also be easier to load and navigate. I have no experience using the Google Maps API and am vaguely aware that there's public data about Muni bus routes, but I'll learn along the way.
Why Is HTML Not A Programming Language?
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
HTML is not a programming language. You can't write a "program" that, say, calculates the average of ten numbers with HTML. While some may point out that HTML is a "markup language", this doesn't clarify how that is different from a programming language. This isn't meant to be a thorough argument, but rather a brief explanation that goes just a bit more in detail than "HTML isn't a programming language but instead a markup language."
"Invent with Scratch" Screencast Series
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
I've created a series of video screencast tutorials for Scratch. Scratch is a block-based programming environment from MIT. It is a programming education toy that is made for kids between the ages of 8 and 16. The screencasts can be found at InventWithScratch.com
Downloading Imgur Posts Linked From Reddit with Python
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
This tutorial tells you how to write a Python script that can scan Reddit and download images from Imgur submissions you find.
Decimal, Binary, and Hexadecimal Odometers
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
It can be difficult to see how other number systems (such as binary and hexadecimal) work since they have a different amount of numerals than the ten numerals of decimal. But imagine that you are counting in these number systems using an old-fashioned analog odometer that has a different amount of numerals for each digit.
Source Code Makeover: Demon Kingdom, Part 2
Posted by Al Sweigart in misc
This is a continuation of Part 1.