I think its time to...TURN THAT FROWN UPSIDE DOWN (a light exists at the end of the tunnel!))

Since spring break the class has learned about lists, 2D lists, and data structures in Python.

All about lists-

            Lists are the third most common type of sequences in Python after strings and ranges and it involves the storing of multiple elements as opposed to characters or integer. Elements can be integers or characters. They are like the less specific sequence in this programming language and mutable. Lists are also 0 indexed and use [] to access a given element or that memory location to call the ith element of the list, use the syntax a[i] where a is the variable that stores the sequence and i is the ith element in the sequence. In order to get a number of elements in the list (as opposed to hard coding), python has a len function. Advanced list operations include reverse, remove, index, append, insert and extend

            2D lists are a little different. Although this type of list is not predefined, it can be thought of like a matrix indicated by Rows encoded from left to right top to bottom. Altogether, this list of lists creates a data structure which allows the user to use math-like notation. One thing to note however, is the importance of order in which loops are written and the values assigned to the variables. Along the same lines, one can also work with text files in python. With special notation, one can write and read files in and to python.

Other data structures:

After experimenting with lists, the class moved on to work with dictionaries and tuples for the final unit in this course. Dictionaries in this programming language create associations between key and value like a mini variable of sorts. Although one can accomplish a similar task using lists, one is not restricted by having to use integer indexes when accessing the desired elements. Dictionaries are denoted by {} and [key] is used instead of [index]. One key difference between dictionaries and lists is the fact that dictionaries are unordered. Key are specified and do not depend on any explicit ordering. So, when should one use dictionaries? When one wants to store relational data as opposed to ordered data.

Good Riddance? Not entirely:

Okay, I admit it, I’m inwardly jumping up and down like a treat-obsessed dog at the prospect of washing my hands of python. But to be fair, I think I did learn a lot, if not about python then at least about my personal strengths and weaknesses. I’m not touching computer programming in college if I can help it. At least that’s the plan. After nearly six months of programming computer languages or dealing with conceptual programs meant to prepare you for the real deal, I have to say that I do appreciate the experience. Although the learning process was rather stressful and emotional at times (and I imagine will continue to be for the remainder of the year), I don’t doubt that the concepts we’ve learned in this class and the problem-solving skills have stretched my brain in some way.