On 2017-09-26, Chris Angelico <ros...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Tue, Sep 26, 2017 at 10:51 PM, gvim <gvi...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Has anyone had any success using Python scripting to automate >> processes for small businesses as a side job? I'd like to use >> my Python skills to supplement my income with about 4 hours' >> work a week. > > Python scripting for automation is definitely a useful skill, > but it's usually best done by someone inside the business. Part > of the value of Python compared to "old-school" languages like > COBOL is that you don't need to be a dedicated Computer > Programmer???; instead, the work of automating daily processes > can be done by the exact people whose daily processes are being > automated. While it's still certainly possible to do contract > work like you suggest, it tends to be more efficient to teach > Python to the right people - maybe that would be a more > productive use of your time? Obviously that's a somewhat > different skill, but there's the whole "feed him for a > lifetime" thing too.
I use dozens of Python scripts to help manage financial aid in my job. It would probably take a similar effort to teach a Python programmer financial aid rules than for a financial aid administrator with some aptitude to learn to use Python. There are plenty of little scripting jobs that don't require much beyond but the ability understand a file spec, at least on one side of the pipeline. Some experience in the industry you want to script for will really be required, even in such simple cases. -- Neil Cerutti -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
