“All the little bits”

  • Diplomjodler@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    I know this is just a simple example but sum() doesn’t teach you about the concept of sums. It would have to be something like:

    def sum_up(my_list):
        result = 0
        for item in my_list:
            result = result + item
        return result
    

    Then you could run that through a debugger and see how the variables change at every step. That way you can develop an understanding of what’s going on there.

    • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      Yeah, thinking about it a bit more, I could have asked it as:

      Is it seeing how it’s used with plain, more spelled out names that helps, or is it seeing how it works “under the hood” that makes it more clear?

      Your answer clarifies things for me though, and I agree that that would be a really nice book/program/learning thing. :)