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Author belopolsky
Recipients belopolsky, docs@python
Date 2010-07-23.19:24:00
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Message-id <1279913042.97.0.618415832845.issue9362@psf.upfronthosting.co.za>
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This bikeshed have been repainted several times already, but here is a true story.

Cast:

Me = myself
Novice = a 14-year-old boy
Laptop = a MacBook Air

Novice: How do i exit [from python prompt]?
Me: What's your best guess?
Novice: [typing] exit [pressing Enter]
Laptop: Use exit() or Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit
Novice: [typing] Ctrl...
Me: OMG, you don't know what Ctrl-D means?  Look for the Ctrl key.
Novice: There is no such key.
    --- curtains ---

I suggest changing

Use exit() or Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit

 to 

Type exit() or quit() and press the Enter key to exit

  or

Type exit() or quit() and press Enter to exit

 or just

Use exit() to exit

My theory is that someone who knows what EOF is, will probably already know how to exit from common terminal oriented programs and Ctrl-D is not universally bound to EOF.

TOOWTDI: two ways to exit is more than enough to teach a novice.
History
Date User Action Args
2010-07-23 19:24:03belopolskysetrecipients: + belopolsky, docs@python
2010-07-23 19:24:02belopolskysetmessageid: <1279913042.97.0.618415832845.issue9362@psf.upfronthosting.co.za>
2010-07-23 19:24:00belopolskylinkissue9362 messages
2010-07-23 19:24:00belopolskycreate