Danny Yoo wrote: > [Warning: I get totally off-topic, opinionated, and cranky in the > following rant. My apologies in advance!] > > Hi Andrew, > > But I get worried, though, that much teaching uses fragile techniques that > don't really scale well. I've disliked the order in which some Python > tutorials approach language features --- in particular, functions seem to > be given short shrift at times. > > I think the concept of functions really need to come as soon as possible: > to me, they're essential core material, and functions need to be > introduced as a way to control program complexity and allow for testing. > > I really wish that someone would take a similar approach in writing a > beginner Python tutorial that focuses on functions almost immediately, > even before control flow.
You might like John Zelle's book - he teaches functions before control flow and puts a fair emphasis on using functions to eliminate duplication and improve program structure. "Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science" http://www.fbeedle.com/99-6.html Kent _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor