O ya, and use Linux. You wont regret it. Dont spend your valuable time developing for a closed system, if you cant open the hood, dont drive the car:)
As for your drawing app question:
1. That's a big project to start from scratch. I write quite a bit of py, and it would take me years (because I would build it on independent primatives, writing and perfecting each).
2. If you really want to take a shot at it, find a py code base that is "closest" to what you actually want to do, and modify it. Often, I gotta start modifying something to even realize _what_ I want it to do.
3. I dont recommend JS. Sure you can make real apps that run independent of the browser, but it's going to be a harder road I promise. Stick to what the scientific community uses (drop into C if necessary [it's not]) because we often just "need to get it done" and py does that beautifully.
-----------EDIT: I hit my comment limit for the night, so here is a reply to your reply:)
There is no secret handshake:) I dont know where you were, but in pro-irc enviroments, people are relatively professional. #python is for sure. Almost nobody shows up and mentions gender btw. There are communication differences that are more common between guys, so that's easier for me for example, but you really _must_ have thick skin. Stuff that sounds dismissive is often just fast or frank advice, OR your question is too vague. Lurk a bit and observe. If you dont get a response, wait and improve your question and ask again. sometimes it takes a day for me to get an answer if it's a difficult topic, or I havent figured out how to ask it in a way that makes sense to other people. Dont assume anyone knows you are a woman, and while I appreciate it when someone makes it clear, especially if they want me to take it into account as there are communication norms that are just different (for some people!) you may find it easier to just not mention it. Or just clue it with your nic. IDK. Dont get stuck on that:) If you are getting a negative vibe, dont reply in-kind.
As for freenode, here is the cliffnotes (look for a irc intro/howto and read it over).
1. find a open source irc client (I use weechat) 2. /connect irc.freenode.net 2. follow the on screen instructions to register your nic-name 4. /join #python 5. ask specific question. put some work into it. if you just want advice, say that.
yep py is short for python (my github is in my profile, I think everything there is py) Often big graphics apps (like gimp) are written in C++. I dont recommend a beginner go down that route. A nice list: https://github.com/vinta/awesome-python
If it's not FOSS, then you cant modify it and/or you cant share your modifications.
No problem:) This stuff is tough, it took me as least as long to learn it as it takes to become a good writer (I started on a Apple II in the 80's). As you get better, you learn _how_ to learn it faster. I sometimes spend a day on a single simple (in retrospect after you solve it!) problem. Learn to put it on hold and try another angle or a different problem. If I get stuck I open vi (the linux txt editor) and make a outline of what I want to be able to do.
And _really_ use Linux. You will thank yourself later. Debian is a good intro. Personally I use (and cant live without) Gentoo, but the learning curve is steeper (but worth it!).
---- EDIT #2
I havent tried these, but they look like good starts: https://pythonprogramming.net/kivy-drawing-application-tutor...
https://docs.python.org/3/library/turtle.html (I especially like this one because it's in the python standard library and looks like a fantastic way to get into the basics)
Also checkout the game frameworks in that curated list above.
It gets fun:) Stick to python3 only. I like this series: https://github.com/ubarredo/LearnPythonTheHardWay
Also youtube has endless linux/python tutorials. That's a great way to see people using it in action.
I never learned this secret handshake and have no idea where to start because I'm a woman and my first-hand experience is that "chat" environments = horrifying levels of shitty sexual harassment. So I would need more instructions than "freenode is awesome!"
find a py code base
I am assuming you mean Python. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Also, where might I look for a Python drawing app code base I might have some hope of playing with? Does it need to be FOSS?
Also thank you very much for this comment.
Edit in reply to your edit:
Thanks so much. Have noted the link to your comment.
Lots of people use ad blockers. The HN crowd is particularly bad about this.
People on HN actively look for ways to get around pay walls. Just to be clear since everyone seems to routinely assume that I'm making a moral argument, I don't use paywalls for my content and I don't have a big problem with people looking for ways around them. I'm just pointing out that they aren't exactly working well for people trying to monetize a thing that involves publishing writing.
People also have a very big problem with writing used as a means to get you to make purchases of some sort, aka content marketing. People are understandably suspicious of writing whose goal is to get you to buy a thing so the writer and publisher can pay their own bills.
I'm glad you have subscriptions. Good for you. But as someone who has put time into developing good writing, gets lots of feedback that I write well and my writing is "valued" but who continues to fail to find some means to adequately monetize my writing, I find all these arguments ridiculous.
I would love to go Get A Real Job like everyone keeps telling me to do. Or even make an app, though I can't manage to get actual coding related questions answered here.*
I've been here over a decade. HN gets over 5 million visitors a month. Between my old handle and this one, I have nearly 50k karma, which presumably is a proxy for "member of the community in good standing whose participation is valued."
And I still can't get what I need, which makes me slightly suspicious that it basically can't be done at all given the state of the world. So, to my mind, saying (essentially) journalists "just need to write better" amounts to victim blaming.
* https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21677535