| CARVIEW |
By Mark Lutz
Third Edition
August 2006
Pages: 1596
ISBN 10: 0-596-00925-9 |
ISBN 13: 9780596009250
(Average of 4 Customer Reviews)
An industry standard just got even better. This bestseller from O'Reilly has been updated to reflect the many changes introduced by Python 2.5. It teaches the most common Python application domains from the ground up with plenty of real-world examples and in-depth discussion. Ideal for novices as well as advanced practitioners.
Full Description
Whether you're a novice or an advanced practitioner, you'll find this refreshed book more than lives up to its reputation. Programming Python, 3rd Edition, teaches you the right way to code. It explains Python language syntax and programming techniques in a clear and concise manner, with numerous examples that illustrate both correct usage and common idioms. By reading this comprehensive guide, you'll learn how to apply Python in real-world problem domains such as:
- GUI programming
- Internet scripting
- Parallel processing
- Database management
- Networked applications
Programming Python, Third Edition covers each of these target domains gradually, beginning with in-depth discussions of core concepts and then progressing toward complete programs. Large examples do appear, but only after you've learned enough to understand their techniques and code.
Along the way, you'll also learn how to use the Python language in realistically scaled programs--concepts such as Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and code reuse are recurring side themes throughout this text. If you're interested in Python programming, then this O'Reilly classic needs to be within arm's reach. The wealth of practical advice, snippets of code, and patterns of program design can all be put into use on a daily basis--making your life easier and more productive.
Reviews of the second edition:
"...about as comprehensive as any book can be."
--Dr. Dobb's Journal
"If the language had manuals, they would undoubtedly
be the texts from O'Reilly...'Learning Python' and 'Programming Python'
are definitive treatments."
--SD Times
Cover | Table of Contents | Colophon
Featured customer reviews
Needs a better index, April 23 2008
Think of a python word. Look in the index. Chances are it isn't there. A book is not searchable electronic media, novel though this experience might be for most programmers, I know! You really, really cannot skimp on the index. You could usefully double the number of index pages. Take a python interpreter, get a full list of python words. Put them _all_ in the index unless they don't appear in your book, not even once. Then write down a list of concepts such as "flow control". Add those too. Then you will have at least a basic index. At present the book is just an exuberant random assembly and no good as a source for answers.
Outstanding Python Reference Top To Bottom, March 22 2007
'Programming Python' by Mark Lutz is an absolute gem of a book for anyone that is, wants, or has to learn Python. From the nuts and bolts to learning how to do the uber-exciting superstar stuff, this book has it all and then some. At around 1,550 page, this book is certainly not on the light side, but as I rarely do with books this larger, I cannot complain one bit. Solid writing, wonderfully laid out, and the kind of guide that can be described as "a course in a book", this is an exceptional reference for Python users and lovers the world over.
Can I possibly use any more adjectives to describe how much I praise this book?? If you use Python or want to become a better Python programmer, pick up this home run and you'll be rounding the bases in no time!!
***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
As advertised..., January 13 2007
As an experienced programmer new to Python, this (large!) book is proving its worth at a very early stage. I picked up the rudiments of Python from the 'Nutshell' book, and the online tutorial (www.python.org). This book picks up from there perfectly - how to get things done.
I have sifted through the first few chapters and feel I've learned much about the 'python way' of doing things. I have also had a need for help with XML (middle of the book) and C-extentions (end of the book), and found that jumping around as such was not a problem - the material sampled in both of these sections provided a foundation that was far easier to deal with than previous attempts to patch together info from web searching, etc.
I'll never have time to read it cover to cover, but it will be on my desk anytime I'm python'ing.
Networking section is too dated, December 27 2006
Scraping and processing the web for data is increasingly interesting to blooming social scientists. With the availability of the BeautifulSoup library, these occasional programmers are now able to slice & dice HTML with regular expressions. But they shouldn't use this book to help them scrape the data from the Internet. Reading this book and using its examples, one might conclude that cookies don't exist on the Web.
If you're looking for solid Web examples or networking example code, don't look here. This section of the book is in need of a re-tune.
Media reviews
"This massive volume covers the language syntax and programming techniques for the Python 2.5 language. Written for the experienced Python programmer, the book provides insight into applying Python for tasks related to GUIs, databases, parallel processing, networked applications, and the Internet."
-- Michael Kleper, The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing
"The goal here is not just to be able to hack together a few Python lines into a utility. It's to be able to use the Python modules and solid development practices to build entire applications that can accomplish their stated purpose as well as be maintainable...If you're a newbie to Python, you're probably not quite ready for this one yet. But once you've posed the question "how what can I do with what I know?", then this is a great next step for you."
-- Thomas Duff, Duffbert's Random Musings
"...offers a virtual manual in book form which can quickly be consulted by novices and pros alike while in the middle of a programming quandry. This means no exiting or turning to a different computer for lengthy online support, but a quick glance at an appropriate chapter covering real problems from parallel processing and networking snafus to considering Java integration within the Python language. Here are chapters offering everything from troubleshooting to design specs, with an eye to realistically scaled problems and avoiding common hurdles..."
-- Diane Donovan, California Bookwatch
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