[ubuntu-us-in] Time for a change

[Simón Ruiz]

After an obligatory bias disclosure—(I teach Python)—I propose:

You should learn Python! :-)

<http://www.python.org>

It's simple to pick up, easy to use, powerful, interpreted (no
compiling required), works on about every platform, and can do an
amazingly varied amount of stuff.

It's Ubuntu's scripting language of choice for the above reasons, as
well as mine.

Check out <http://swaroopch.info/text/Byte_of_Python:Main_Page> for a
good introduction. After a good introduction, I've always found
actually USING a language to be the only way I really learn it in any
sort of permanent way.

Eric Raymond wrote a narrative on why he prefers Python at
<http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/3882>.

Alternately, as a good way to learn the Linux command-line, you might
want to look at BASH scripting. It's a good, simple way to tweak and
automate your computer, and it's far from something to sneeze at.

Not to mention, you'd be learning the ability to be able to write
short programs directly into the command-line when you want to do
something short, but non-trivial.

Whatever you choose, just make sure to have fun! That's how you learn best ;-)

Simón