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Python Books

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relfx at hotmail

Aug 22, 2001, 11:56 PM

Post #1 of 7 (692 views)
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Python Books

I was wandering if anyone here read the few books that are out there for
python. Lately the only set of books i have seen that give alot of info are
the O'Reilly editions such Learning and Programming with python.

Are these books the best to have considering I'm still moving up the
ladder of programming? Also are there going to more publications to support
python programming?

kosh at aesaeion

Aug 22, 2001, 5:35 PM

Post #2 of 7 (639 views)
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Python Books [In reply to]

Relfx wrote:

> I was wandering if anyone here read the few books that are out there for
> python. Lately the only set of books i have seen that give alot of info
> are the O'Reilly editions such Learning and Programming with python.
>
> Are these books the best to have considering I'm still moving up the
> ladder of programming? Also are there going to more publications to
> support python programming?

Another book to consider getting is the python essential reference. I find
it to be a great book when programming since it has the information in a
rather concise format. Learning books are designed for learning and don't
tend to make very good reference manuals.

Two other books that are not python books that I consider indispensible are
Refactoring and Design Patterns. These books cover some core issues of OO
work and refactoring techniques work very nicely with python. If applied
properly they can help you save a lot of time by helping you improve the
design of your program as you go. I know it seems strange but if you
constantly do the work to keep your design clean you can add new features
faster then if you keep trying to hack features in.

leodebeo at hotmail

Aug 23, 2001, 4:10 AM

Post #3 of 7 (644 views)
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Python Books [In reply to]

Relfx wrote:

> I was wandering if anyone here read the few books that are out there for
> python. Lately the only set of books i have seen that give alot of info
> are the O'Reilly editions such Learning and Programming with python.
>
> Are these books the best to have considering I'm still moving up the
> ladder of programming? Also are there going to more publications to
> support python programming?
>
>
>
>
i have both books from O'Reilly and they are quite ok, allthough i think
for beginners, 'Learning Python' touches some quite complicated matters
early on , as they apparently have C and C++ background (eg, argument
passing, the authors do that for concisenes and completeness, and that's ok
if you somehow know already some programming concepts). if you don't
immediately understand some concepts, try some programming and eventually
you will.
anyway i'd recommend those books with 4 to 5 stars on the Amazon-site
with some library reference book (or online reference), they're the only
books you need.

wyatts at onr

Aug 23, 2001, 5:39 AM

Post #4 of 7 (662 views)
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Python Books [In reply to]

If you are new to both programming and Python, I like "Learn to Program
Using Python," "The Quick Python Book" and "Core Python Programming."

Each has it own angle, which serves my learning style well.

pattern matching chaos, what a learning style,
wyatt

"Relfx" <relfx [at] hotmail> wrote in message
news:BI1h7.17461$V7.498949 [at] e3500-atl2
> I was wandering if anyone here read the few books that are out there for
> python. Lately the only set of books i have seen that give alot of info
are
> the O'Reilly editions such Learning and Programming with python.
>
> Are these books the best to have considering I'm still moving up the
> ladder of programming? Also are there going to more publications to
support
> python programming?
>
>
>

rob at jam

Aug 23, 2001, 7:00 AM

Post #5 of 7 (657 views)
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Python Books [In reply to]

Relfx wrote:
>
> I was wandering if anyone here read the few books that are out there for
> python. Lately the only set of books i have seen that give alot of info are
> the O'Reilly editions such Learning and Programming with python.
>
> Are these books the best to have considering I'm still moving up the
> ladder of programming? Also are there going to more publications to support
> python programming?

Some of this depends on where you're coming from. If you have experience
or classroom time with just about any modern programming language, just
about any introductory Python book will do to introduce you to the basic
elements of the language. For this purpose, you can also use some of the
web tutorials available:

http://www.lowerstandard.com/python/tutoriallinks.html

*Learning Python* (Lutz/Ascher) assumes at least a light familiarity
with another language. If you took a semester of Pascal ten years ago,
and made it as far as stacks and queues, you may still meet these
assumptions. I know someone who approached the book this way and liked
it.

*Learn to Program Using Python* (Gauld) is a good text assuming no
previous programming experience.

*Core Python Programming* (Chun) starts at the beginner level (but it
hits the ground running in a good way) and introduces a number of
intermediate topics. Lots of working sample code.

*Programming Python 2nd ed.* (Lutz) makes a great second Python book, no
matter which introduction you choose. I always keep this one and *Core*
handy and together for quick reference.

*Python How To Program* will be published by Prentice Hall soon, and the
current draft is of fine quality. When it hits the shelves, I'm thinking
about picking up half a dozen copies for Python newbies I know.

*Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours* (published by SAMS) is actually a
nice beginner text. I was skeptical because of the title, but it has
turned out to be a local favorite.

Whatever path you choose, Python students have access to this newsgroup,
the Python Tutor email list, and other newbie-friendly resources.

Rob
--
A {} is a terrible thing to waste.
Useless Python!
http://www.lowerstandard.com/python

brian_zhouNOSPAM at techie

Aug 23, 2001, 1:17 PM

Post #6 of 7 (654 views)
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Python Books [In reply to]

Just to add I found reading

Design Patterns
The Design Patterns Smalltalk Companion

together very helpful, because Python is closer to Smalltalk than C++.

-Brian

"kosh" <kosh [at] aesaeion> wrote in message
news:4s92m9.n9p.ln [at] 192
> Relfx wrote:
>
> > I was wandering if anyone here read the few books that are out there for
> > python. Lately the only set of books i have seen that give alot of info
> > are the O'Reilly editions such Learning and Programming with python.
> >
> > Are these books the best to have considering I'm still moving up the
> > ladder of programming? Also are there going to more publications to
> > support python programming?
>
> Another book to consider getting is the python essential reference. I find
> it to be a great book when programming since it has the information in a
> rather concise format. Learning books are designed for learning and don't
> tend to make very good reference manuals.
>
> Two other books that are not python books that I consider indispensible
are
> Refactoring and Design Patterns. These books cover some core issues of OO
> work and refactoring techniques work very nicely with python. If applied
> properly they can help you save a lot of time by helping you improve the
> design of your program as you go. I know it seems strange but if you
> constantly do the work to keep your design clean you can add new features
> faster then if you keep trying to hack features in.

SPMSXsunkcosts at pobox

Aug 23, 2001, 1:20 PM

Post #7 of 7 (645 views)
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Python Books [In reply to]

In article <3B850C4E.CE483F1A [at] jam>, Rob Andrews <rob [at] jam>
wrote:

> *Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours* (published by SAMS) is actually a
> nice beginner text. I was skeptical because of the title, but it has
> turned out to be a local favorite.

I am about midway through this, and I have to give a newbie thumbs down
to this one. The author seems earnest enough in wanting to spread the
Python love. He also gives you solid advice in approaching Python
programming from a 50K foot level.

But the methodology and examples are a real drag for a newbie like me.
Too much time is wasted on general conceptual history and theory when
discussing Python components, and not enough time spent on giving a lot
of examples of Python code in understandable settings.

As soon as a newbie builds that first, tiny app that makes their life a
tad bit easier, they'll be hungry to learn more, and they'll process
new info that much faster. You can't get this rush by talking about
theory, and the author's personal, eclectic interests can be a real
drag if you're not interested in the same thing (Mayan calendars,
number theory, programming history, etc.)

It's not just me; check out the Amazon reviews on this book. You'll see
a similar theme.

Steve

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