Can You Solve This Using Only Chapter 1?

Here’s a problem I recently gave my students. Can you solve it using only Chapter 1 of Learn to Code by Solving Problems? Fix Dan’s Sentences Dan’s writing a new book, but he needs a bit of help with his grammar. Correct the given sentences by adding commas in the correct locations throughout the sentence. Input A single line containing t... Read more 07 Apr 2022 - 1 minute read

How to Handle the Practice Exercises

(Inspired by Jun tsuru, one of my readers.) Q: help! I’m getting my butt kicked by the practice problems in Learn to Code by Solving Problems. What do I do? A: first, you’re doing the right thing trying the practice problems. Reading alone is not enough. Second, repeat this to yourself three times: it is normal to struggle on practice problem... Read more 16 Feb 2022 - 4 minute read

Input and Output Redirection in PowerShell

Hello! If you’re trying to use input redirection in Chapter 2 with PowerShell, you’ll need a different approach than the < operator that works in many other shells. Let’s say you wanted to use input redirection on the Telemarketers problem in Chapter 2. Here’s the command that I’m currently using for PowerShell for input redirection: Get-C... Read more 20 Jan 2022 - 1 minute read

Can You Find the Bug?

Hello, Python people, It may be clear to you already that writing code is crucial in the process of learning to program. But there are other important skills that may be less obvious but that we need to practice as well. For example: reading code written by others. You never know what you’ll learn by reading through other people’s code. You mi... Read more 20 Sep 2021 - 2 minute read

Alpaca Racing, aka Using the First Five Chapters!

What’s up, Python people, I don’t usually get multiple requests to cover the same thing, but I’ve gotten a few requests to cover a problem called Alpaca Racing. (Why? Alpacas learning Python? Hi, buddies. Please don’t spit on me.) I’m going to assume here that you’ve studied the first five chapters of the book. If you have, you know all about ... Read more 06 Aug 2021 - 8 minute read