proud n00b

Python library to handle photo uploads /resizing

For Housefed, I am looking for a python library / module to allow the user to :

1. Upload an image

2. Resize/crop it to fit 300px X 400px box

3. Save the image

Currently I am using a simple python hack that uploads the image, crops, and ultimately distorts the image. This worked initially to make sure the system works, but I need a more sophisticated system that allows the user to control the image that is saved.

Does anyone know of any python libraries that do this? 

Subclasses & the Source Code

Last week I hit a bug I knew I could fix - but I couldn’t. After a day of banging my head against the wall, I came to one conclusion. I needed to reread ‘Learning Python’ to get a better handle on the language.

One of my talents I just recognized is the ability to find patterns. I can see the repetition in Django docs for views or forms, and basically riff off that to hack something together. Its the same with guitar. I can’t write or read music, but I can pick up songs and play those over and over again. The problem is that I didn’t really understand the what & why with Python & Django. I knew what to do, but I didn’t know why or what was going on.

I had to face reality and go back to the basics. I was lacking key pieces of information that weren’t allowing me to solve the problem. Turning back to ‘Learning Python,’ connected many of the dots with OOP- subclasses & overloading methods to be specific. Understanding these pieces led me to understand Django on a whole new level.

A few of you have told me, “Read the Django code” when I send a question your way. For a n00b, this is a daunting proposition. The thought process to a beginner is, “I barely understand my code. What can I possibly get from reading the source code?” To the n00bs out there, the critical piece of information you need to understand is a subclass. Recognizing the methods and attributes of the superclass are what you can access through a subclass is a key connection I hadn’t completely made.

When someone tells you to “Read the code,” it means look to see what are the methods and attributes you inherit from the superclass.

I think making this simple connection has allowed me to turn the page with my coding. Instead of just copying patterns, I am comprehending what is actually going on, and what makes Django such a powerful framework. 

To the n00bs out there, “Understand subclasses, then read the source code.”

Know Django?…Also the new site lets you…

I’m 99% done with the backend for the new site. There is one bug left that drove me to Trader Joes to pick up frozen chicken tikka masala.. I kid you not.

StackOverflow Question: Django-AttributeError

Any Django experts have any ideas?

Thanks guys!

PS I’ll let everyone in on the new site…

Airbnb for meals. I’m a huge Anthony Bourdain fan, and it hit me - How cool would it be to meet people & eat a home-cooked meal?!

So if you are in San Francisco and want to try home-cooked Indian food, you can book a reservation with a cook on the site. Or if you are traveling, find yourself walking the streets of New Delhi, and wonder - “What do the locals eat?” You’ll soon be able to find out!

#Django #S3 #Google #Checkout #Help

I’m working on the Mystery project, and I’ve gotten a ton done in the last week. Most of the backend is complete except these final pieces.

• Uploading photos to Amazon S3 
• Integration with Google Checkout for user payments

With S3, I have been playing with django-storages, but I am at a loss for why it isn’t working. I haven’t started looking at Google Checkout, but if anyone has experience working with it, I’d love to get in touch.

The gist of what this new site does (in super vague terms) is let users add & sell items through the site.

Ex. Tom adds ItemB on the site, says there is an inventory of 10, and each are priced at $25. As people make the purchase, I need to reflect that data on the site- not only through the transaction. 

If any Python /Django developers out there can help, please leave a comment or shoot me an email. If you are in the Bay Area, that would be even better so we could meet up (if I don’t already know you). 

Thanks gang! The next few weeks are going to be incredibly exciting!

—

PS still waiting to hear back on the interviews. Fingers crossed… 

5 months after HN front page

It has been 5 months since I left my job to learn how to code. To be a little more specific, a sales job at a startup that had just raised $7m in VC funding. My initial post on HN was received with great support & criticism.  One of my favorites, “I’m sorry, but I don’t wish you luck. You are setting yourself up for disappointment.” So whats happened since then?

I got a ton of help from HN-ers that found me via that post.

Exceptional people lent me a helping hand. I was extremely lucky to have received that type of support- but not everyone is that fortunate. As Duke Chung and Ching-Ho Fung said, the key traits of a good mentorship:

• 1. Look for someone who is looking (to mentor)
• 2. Ask the right questions and a lot of them
• 3. Make sure the prospective mentor really has the time
• 4. Give it time
• 5. Formalize the relationship

Most eager students are missing, “someone who is looking (to mentor).”

There are plenty of other people out there hungry to learn how to program, and change their life, but don’t have the mentors I have. So about 6 weeks ago, I thought I had learned enough to start a project. I was wrong of course, but thats the beauty of learning something new. You have to jump in over your head and work your way out.

As Reid Hoffman said, “If you review your first site version and don’t feel embarrassment, you spent too much time on it.”

To reciprocate the goodwill back to HN:

Mentor77 - to help other n00bs meet people willing to help them learn on an ongoing basis.

The opposite of Stackoverflow.

Helping someone with one problem is relatively easy. Fostering relationships for months/ years is much more difficult.  I built the first version of Mentor77 about a month ago, and released a second version  about a week ago. With the recent HNofficehours post, I wanted to share the approach I’m taking towards connecting HN-ers trying to learn something new.

LESSON FROM V1 

The first version was almost identical in theory to HNOfficehours. A mentor would create a skill profile for the areas they are knowledgable in, and n00bs could message them. The problem?

Users wouldn’t cold-message experts.

This should have made sense. You wouldn’t walk up to a stranger, and say, “You know Python, help me.”  I think it comes from a fear of embarrassment - people do not want to feel dumb for the sake of tarnishing their reputation. With that knowledge, I went to work, and launched the v2 a little more than a week ago.

TWO GOALS FOR V2

1. Lower the barrier for n00bs to get help.

Now user’s make public posts to the site- not a specific user. That should lower the barrier for users to feel comfortable enough to make posts on what they want to learn. It also allows for any user to respond to a user’s question- not just the individual messaged.

2. Simple Point system to encourage more interaction

This is a starting point for rewarding user activity. Let’s be honest, it sucks in its current, overly simplistic form. This will evolve in the coming weeks.

WHAT’S NEXT

1. Private Messaging 

Allowing limited private messaging between Mentor-Mentee makes sense for fostering a closer relationship. This will come back from the v1, but in a slightly different form.

2. More professional design

The one thing I’ve heard over and over- make the design it’s childish. Just like art, it’s much easier to recognize greatness, than build it. A much smarter design is on the way.

WANT TO HELP OUT?

For this to be successful, Mentor77 needs a team. It’s time I open this project to more people who would like to contribute.

If you have experience with Python/Django or Front-end/Design, let me know!