Introductory Material on Python
High level descriptions
- What is Python?
Executive summary, with pointers for further reading.
- What is Python? (again)
Another executive summary, by Guido van Rossum.
- An Introduction to Python
One page overview, with pointers for further reading.
- Python: Yet Another Object Oriented Interpretive Scripting Language
Longer overview by Enno Davids, presented in the AUUG Victorian Chapter Technical Conference, 1997.
- Glue It All Together With Python
Guido sells Python to the object components community.
- Why Python?
Eric Raymond explains why Python is his favorite programming language.
- Python Quick Reference
For Python 2.2.
- Python Quick Reference (older)
For Python versions 2.0 and 2.1.
Introductions to Python programming for non-programmers
- Instant Hacking
Learn how to program with Python. By Magnus Lie Hetland.
- A Non-Programmer's Tutorial for Python
By Josh Cogliati.
- Learning to Program
An introduction to programming for those who have never programmed before, by Alan Gauld. It introduces several programming languages but has a strong emphasis on Python.
- How to Think Like a Computer Scientist
Allen Downey's open source book has a Python version. With Jeff Elkner. (Also at Andamooka.)
- Learn to Program using Python
A tutorial by Richard Baldwin.
Introductions for programmers
- An Introduction to Python (lj)
From Linux Journal Issue 21, by Jeff Bauer. Good to get started.
- Instant Python
A 6-page minimal crash course by Magnus Lie Hetland.
- Software Carpentry
This course (funded by the PSF) is for people with some exposure to programming. It covers Python, but also covers version control and unit testing.
- Python Programming for Beginners
This article is a practical introduction to writing non-trivial applications in Python. By Jacek Artymiak.
- Python for Science
By Konrad Hinsen.
- Python Short Course
By Richard P. Muller, Caltech.
Full tutorials
- Python Tutorial
In the standard documentation, by Guido van Rossum. A classic.
- A Byte of Python
Tutorial by Swaroop C H.
- The What, Why, Who and Where of Python
In UnixWorld Online, by Aaron Watters. Also a classic.
- Appendix E of Mark Lutz' Python book (Programming Python)
Not available online, but chances are that you own the book and hadn't noticed this appendix!
- Dive Into Python
A free Python tutorial for experienced programmers by Mark Pilgrim.
- Scripting course by Hans Petter Langtangen
A CS course on scripting that spans a wide range: why scripting, Perl vs. Python, intro to Python, regular expressions, Tkinter, CGI.
Locating additional tutorials
- Google Directory
- Python Cookbook, from ActiveState.
