From: Caio Tiago Oliveira Date: 2005-02-14T07:29:54+09:00 Subject: Re: Printing why's (poignant) guide to ruby Alexander Kellett, 13/2/2005 19:17: > i'm really puzzled by this. > why python? or even worse. vb??!! > > On Feb 13, 2005, at 11:08 PM, Navindra Umanee wrote: > >> Richard Dale wrote: >> >>> I'd like to try ruby on non-programmers teaching them using why's >>> amazing >>> guide, to see how it works as a beginner's language. I showed some ruby >>> code to my 45 year old lodger who has never used a computer or seen a >>> computer program. He said "it looks like English, I thought computer >>> programming was maths". And he is especially impressed with the cartoon >>> foxes in Chapter 3, they have got to be the killer feature.. >> >> >> Oh you think Ruby might be suitable for a total beginner? >> >> I have the same problem. My dad wants to learn programming. I >> thought maybe Python or even Visual Basic (or one of the KDE >> implementations) might be more suitable. He's going to be pretty much >> learning on his own, so a suitable book and references must be >> available. With something like Visual Basic, he'll probably be able >> to get immediate and more gratifying results as well, which should >> help keep up the motivation. >> >> I've seen some interesting beginner books for Python that make it a >> strong contender as well. One thing that might be a problem at first >> is the whitespace issue... >> >> Somehow I'm not sure that Ruby would fit the bill here but I'm >> interested in hearing of other's experiences/opinions. I never >> considered/read why's guide before but I'll have to take a look now. I think Ruby easier to learn than Python for a beginer. Python may be easier for someone migrating from C. Both languages are quite easy for the beginners, and people who have never programed can do interesting things in the first or second day.