When comparing Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science vs Learn Python the Hard way, the Slant community recommends Learn Python the Hard way for most people. In the question“What are the best books to learn Python 2.x?” Learn Python the Hard way is ranked 2nd while Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Learn Python the Hard way is:
Teaches by giving a piece of code and letting the user see what the code does.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Practical
Teaches by giving a piece of code and letting the user see what the code does.
Pro Free
Available online for free.
Pro Encourages use of flash cards
To help better remember certain parts of the language, the author suggests using flash cards.
Cons
Con Author still suggests newcomers to the language learn Python 2
The only reason to learn Python 2 these days is if you have to workout on legacy Python 2 software, and upgrading to Python 3 is not an option. Telling newcomers to learn a outdated, and soon to be unsupported version of the language is detrimental.
Con Suggests looking up details on the web
The book often suggests looking up details on the web instead of providing them. Additionally, no resources are suggested where to look up such information. As a result the quality of explanation of details can vary based on used resource.