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This post originally appeared on the Software Carpentry website.

Here's the feedback we received for our workshop in Purdue this week. We discussed the shell and Python on day 1, and then git and debugging/testing/documentation on day 2.

Good
  • Interactivity (technology and people)
  • Day 2 topics (version control, testing and documentation)
  • Hints about what's out there
  • Overall breadth
  • Hands-on
  • VirtualBox and using a Virtual Machine
  • Topics — git and shell
  • Online materials, breadth
  • Testing
  • Python
  • Good depth, overview
  • Documenting the bootcamp online
  • Interesting content
  • Good for beginners
  • Examples on day 1 (shell, Python)
  • Organization
  • Tips about what not to do
Bad
  • Too basic for some
  • Jump up in difficulty on day 2
  • VirtualBox problems
  • Wanted Windows-specific examples
  • Wanted C++ examples
  • Wanted advantages/disadvantages of Python data structures
  • Python subtleties not covered for beginners (when to use a colon)
  • Too fast to follow sometimes (need to pause before executing commands)
  • Wanted specific skills (i.e., Python)
  • Wanted to know more about Valgrind
  • Version control (too in depth — branches)
  • git command-line was overwhelming (Github was good)
  • More exercises, homework?
  • Detailed schedule (so we can cherry-pick topics)
  • Too fast sometimes
  • Slides
  • No printed documentation for notes
  • What about SVN users?