Creating static site with Hyde (newbie question)

I ran across with Boris Smus's site, which runs on Hyde. Hyde is a static-site generator using Django templates and written in Python. Since Boris has open-sourced his site through GitHub, I'd like to fork that to build my own static site.

But here's the problem. I know nothing about Python, Django Templates or Hyde.

I've mostly spent my time before with WordPress and almost any programming outside of PHP is unknown to me. Basically, I don't know where to start. What to install via my Webfaction panel, in what order and so on. Another thing which I can't get my head around the updating via SSH, how the commands work, all of it. I'm literally at square one with this one.

I'm aware of Octopress, which is static site generator as well, written in Ruby. I'd rather not use it this time, not that it would a bad choice by any measures, but I really like to learn the basics of Python with this.

Since most of you guys are more experienced and comfortable working with Python, Django and maybe even Hyde, I thought I'd ask you, where a newbie should start a project like this? Or should I start it at all?

Thanks for any answers in advance.