Mar 03, 2016
One of my first goals when I started learning Python was to build a web application.
Once you've gotten a basic grip on Python, you might be ready to learn about web frameworks.
A web framework consists of software designed to aid in web development. They make it easier
to create a website or web app, if you know how to use them. Unfortunately, there is a
learning curve to using the frameworks but thankfully there is plenty o' documentation to
go around to help you.
Here are the two Python Frameworks I've chosen to investigate:
- Django: widely used, great community support, comes with just about everything built in. Can be used for smaller apps or multi-page/app websites.
- Flask: a "microframework" used for smaller apps. Possibly more manageable for someone beginning a smaller project, like me.
So as a beginner-level coder, I've chosen to start with Flask. I also found
this sweet guide that I think will help.
Maybe someday I will graduate to Django, it sounds like a great framework. I've also decided that
first I need to brush up on my HTML.
According to a lot of what I've read it doesn't hurt to know CSS/Javascript. So this whole
"build a web app" idea will continue, albeit with some hurdles to clear first.
Edit: I ended up choosing web2py, which I hadn't even considered when I wrote this originally!
Here's a post about why I chose it.
Feb 29, 2016
Python's set of libraries are fun to explore. They allow Python to work with
many types of other coding languages, allow you to do cool stuff, and
seem to require a minimal knowledge of the actual code. You can read the
complete list of standard libraries here.
There are also others available that you can download and install for unique
challenges or software such as Android.
Currently, my favorite library is Tkinter.
Tkinter is a module that replicates Tk/TCL
within Python and allows you to create a quick Graphical User Interface (GUI) for
your programs - great for trying to put together a prototype program with basic
aesthetic design control for things like buttons, entry boxes, text and other visual
elements that make up the front end of a computer program.
Pro Tip:
When you're trying to use a new module, you can read how to use it in the
module's documentation. Here's Tkinter's documentation.
Today's Find:
Free guide called "Automate the Boring stuff with Python"
Feb 25, 2016
Found this article today
via The Do Lectures and think it's so true. Whatever you want to do, just start.
Because "Sucking is the first step to being sorta good at something."
Feb 25, 2016
Tonight, I made a list of 15 things I've observed after 4 years of study
at the University of Illinois and 4 years of professional experience in
Marketing. So here they are:
- It's easier to sell one thing than several different products.
- Distribution = Very Important
- Marketing depends a lot on product quality. What can you do for the user/customer? What problems can you solve?
Seth Godin talks about this quite often.
- Design matters... in product, communications, and everything else in this world.
- Sell benefits, not features.
- People are emotional buyers.
- The more you know about your customer, the better.
- Budget and resources matter.
- There can be an extremely wide variance from industry to industry. Look for parallels.
- Humanize your company as much as possible. This is a great example.
- You're more likely to find success with talented people around you.
- Be aware of the Pareto Principle AKA The 80/20 Rule. 80% of results often come from 20% of customers.
- Ads that annoy and shout about your product don't work. Ads that tell customers useful information or help them in some way do.
- There is such a thing as too many choices for the customer. It overwhelms them.
- Practice brevity. Whatever you've got to say, do it in fewer words.
Feb 23, 2016
Today's discovery is Python Koans.
According to python-guide.org,
Koans "uses a test-driven approach, q.v. TEST DRIVEN DESIGN SECTION to provide
an interactive tutorial teaching basic Python concepts. By fixing assertion statements
that fail in a test script, this provides sequential steps to learning Python."
I was also curious what a "Koan" actually is:
"a paradox to be meditated upon that is used to train Zen Buddhist monks to abandon ultimate
dependence on reason and to force them into gaining sudden intuitive enlightenment"
- Merriam-Webster
Koans takes a little work to install. Pygorithm is a
similar package for learning advanced more algorithm theories with python, and can be more easily installed by pip.
Feb 22, 2016
I have studied and currently work in Marketing, with around 5 years of experience.
I would like to begin sharing my journey through the coding world. I have chosen Python
as my language to explore, to start. I began last fall by completing three free online courses on Coursera.
It's taught by an amazing professor, Dr. Charles Severance from the University of Michigan.
Check these courses out if you want an epic introduction to Python and coding in general.
I previously had a little bit of HTML experience, nothing else. I am very new to coding
and enjoying learning a little more every day. I'm going to post my trials, problems,
and things I figure out along the way and anything else I find interesting.
Why do I want to learn to program?
- Rapidly growing segments of our lives rely on computers and similar technologies. It seems unwise to remain ignorant of their internal processes.
- Web apps are cool, useful and make our lives better. I'd like to build them.
- To strengthen myself professionally.
- To CREATE - coding is actually a very great creative outlet.
Why Python?
It's a language that emphasizes readability, is very versatile and has a great community
of users to help you solve problems. It can be used for everything from the front end
functionality, user interface, etc. to the back end - data storage, server use, etc.
My goal is to get better every day, and eventually build some cool shit.
Thank you for reading,
Erick
At the time I wrote this, I worked in a non-technical marketing role. After beginning my Python studies,
I later found a role where I essentially got paid to write code that automated processes for a business.
If you're wondering how, I used Pandas,
Requests and Excel a lot at most recent gig.
Feb 21, 2016
Reach Out
I'm a developer with experience automating tasks, building apps and writing primarily
about Python coding. Send me your project, cool new library, event or questions.
Collaborative inquiries or work opportunities are welcome. Or if you just want a second
point of view of something you're working on, hit me up.
Send Email
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Projects + Apps
positivipy, a text generation flask + mysql app built with fuzzywuzzy, ftfy, language_tool_python, textblob and markovify libraries
Ask Tame Impala, a web2py Tame Impala music lyrics search app
rst-url-validator, a tool for validating urls in restructuredtext documents
restaurant profit projector, a streamlit dashboard for projecting profit scenarios in a restaurant
mas tacos, proof of concept taco location app via a US taco restaurant dataset