Book Recommendation

[Anthony]

Hello I'm currently trying to read Core Python Programming, but by the
looks of it im never going to get done the book is about 860 pages long
real intimidating, but im guess im going to have to stick in there. have
any of you ever read it? is it a good book? if not what do you suggest i
read. Please help me i'm eager to learn :)

Thanks

[Cameron Laird]

In article <pa************ *************** *@secureb0x.net >,
Anthony <sy******@secur eb0x.net> wrote:

Hello I'm currently trying to read Core Python Programming, but by the
looks of it im never going to get done the book is about 860 pages long
real intimidating, but im guess im going to have to stick in there. have
any of you ever read it? is it a good book? if not what do you suggest i
read. Please help me i'm eager to learn :)

Thanks

I like *Core Python Programming*. My goals might differ
from yours, though. What are you after? What's your back-
ground? Those probably determine more than the book itself.

Perhaps <URL: http://www.unixreview.com/documents/s=7822/ur >
and <URL: http://www.python.org/cgi-bin/moinmoin/PythonBooks >
will interest you.
--

Cameron Laird <cl****@phaseit .net>
Business: http://www.Phaseit.net

[Anthony]

On Wed, 08 Oct 2003 20:11:04 +0000, Cameron Laird wrote:

In article <pa************ *************** *@secureb0x.net >,
Anthony <sy******@secur eb0x.net> wrote:

Hello I'm currently trying to read Core Python Programming, but by the
looks of it im never going to get done the book is about 860 pages long
real intimidating, but im guess im going to have to stick in there. have
any of you ever read it? is it a good book? if not what do you suggest i
read. Please help me i'm eager to learn :)

Thanks

I like *Core Python Programming*. My goals might differ
from yours, though. What are you after? What's your back-
ground? Those probably determine more than the book itself.

Perhaps <URL: http://www.unixreview.com/documents/s=7822/ur >
and <URL: http://www.python.org/cgi-bin/moinmoin/PythonBooks >
will interest you.

Well I know C, bash and i work with scripting alot i know the basics of
programming, incremental development, debugging, etc I wanna implement
gentoo's portage system which is completely written in python. I
wanna become a gentoo developer which requires me to learn bash and python
gentoo's ebuilds are written and portage in python. That means i have to
be a top notch python programmer I've read the first four chapters of the
book which is very good it doesn't play around it gets straight to the
point, but as i said the size, and weight of the book is intimidating. MY
mom bought me this book so i dont wanna just leave it here collecting dust
i might just have to pick it up and read it :)

Thanks

[Gerrit Holl]

<quote name="Anthony" date="106563957 3" email="sy****** @secureb0x.net" >

Hello I'm currently trying to read Core Python Programming, but by the
looks of it im never going to get done the book is about 860 pages long
real intimidating, but im guess im going to have to stick in there. have
any of you ever read it? is it a good book? if not what do you suggest i
read. Please help me i'm eager to learn :)

</quote>

I don't know the book, but...

If you're eager to learn, you should be happy with such a big book, this
means you can learn a lot! :)

BTW, there is a 'tutor' mailinglist, which may interest you. You're
questions are welcome here, but that list is specifically designed
for beginners, so you have more chance in getting questions answered
faster there.

Gerrit.

--
Mozilla _is_ the web: it grows faster than you can download it.
1011001 1101111 1110101 1110010 1110011 0101100
1000111 1100101 1110010 1110010 1101001 1110100

[Cameron Laird]

In article <pa************ *************** *@secureb0x.net >,
Anthony <sy******@secur eb0x.net> wrote:

[Michael Geary]

> Well I know C, bash and i work with scripting alot i know the basics of

programming, incremental development, debugging, etc I wanna implement
gentoo's portage system which is completely written in python. I
wanna become a gentoo developer which requires me to learn bash and python
gentoo's ebuilds are written and portage in python. That means i have to
be a top notch python programmer I've read the first four chapters of the
book which is very good it doesn't play around it gets straight to the
point, but as i said the size, and weight of the book is intimidating. MY
mom bought me this book so i dont wanna just leave it here collecting dust
i might just have to pick it up and read it :)

Have you gone through the tutorial at www.python.org?

http://www.python.org/doc/2.3.2/tut/tut.html

When I started learning Python, I made the mistake of skipping the tutorial,
figuring that I didn't want an introduction to programming (having been
programming for over 30 years). I didn't realize that this tutorial was also
very good for programmers with experience in other languages.

My favorite Python books at the moment are Alex Martelli's _Python in a
Nutshell_, David Mertz's _Text Processing in Python_, and David Beazley's
_Python Essential Reference_.

-Mike

[Anthony]

On Wed, 08 Oct 2003 19:59:33 +0000, Anthony wrote:

Hello I'm currently trying to read Core Python Programming, but by the
looks of it im never going to get done the book is about 860 pages long
real intimidating, but im guess im going to have to stick in there. have
any of you ever read it? is it a good book? if not what do you suggest i
read. Please help me i'm eager to learn :)

Thanks

Ok you guys are the best I'm going to stop bugging you now and get to work
there is just one more question i have to ask. "Michael Geary" said read
the tutorial on python.org, but Core Python Programming covers everything
should i read the tutorial on python.org anyway or just the book?

[Paul Rubin]

Anthony <sy******@secur eb0x.net> writes:

Ok you guys are the best I'm going to stop bugging you now and get to work
there is just one more question i have to ask. "Michael Geary" said read
the tutorial on python.org, but Core Python Programming covers everything
should i read the tutorial on python.org anyway or just the book?

First, read the tutorial. Then, if you're still confused, go look at
the book in the store and see if it answers your questions. If it
does, buy it and read it. If it doesn't, look for another group, ask
questions on the newsgroup, etc.

In my opinion, if you have solid experience programming in other
languages, then the tutorial and reference manual are probably all you
need to get going with Python, and you needn't bother with any books.
But if you're less experienced, you may benefit from a Python book.

Also, I'm not familiar with "Core Python Programming" but if you feel
you need a book, the first one I'd look at is "Python in a Nutshell".

[Paul Rubin]

Paul Rubin <http://ph****@NOSPAM.i nvalid> writes:

First, read the tutorial. Then, if you're still confused, go look at
the book in the store and see if it answers your questions. If it
does, buy it and read it. If it doesn't, look for another group, ask
questions on the newsgroup, etc.

Bah, I'm not typing well today. I meant to say "If it doesn't, look
for another BOOK, ask questions on the newsgroup, etc.".

[Michael Geary]

> Ok you guys are the best I'm going to stop bugging you now and get to work

there is just one more question i have to ask. "Michael Geary" said read
the tutorial on python.org, but Core Python Programming covers everything
should i read the tutorial on python.org anyway or just the book?

Why are you asking? The tutorial is free, just go read it and then decide if
it was worthwhile! :-)

You can also read _Text Processing in Python_ for free on David Mertz's
site:

http://gnosis.cx/TPiP/

If nothing else, read David's Appendix A which provides some real insight
into how the Python language works:

http://gnosis.cx/TPiP/appendix_a.txt

And you can get a free 14-day trial of Safari at http://safari.oreilly.com/
and read _Python in an Nutshell_ and _Python Essential Reference_ there.
Gonna be a busy couple of weeks for you. :-)

-Mike