Moving from Perl to Python

[Remco Gerlich]

Richard Zilavec <rzilavec at tcn.net> wrote in comp.lang.python: 
> I just got back from two book stores, nothing on Python, I was
> shocked!  So I went online and found a pile but I hate ordering
> online, I like to browse through them first.  Anyways, I really like
> O'Reilly books, is the Programming Python really advanced or is more
> along the lines of the Programming Perl where it covers the basics to
> advanced?

Personally I don't like Programming Python much. It's becoming old (there
are rumors of a new version soon) and not very well structured. But then,
it's a lot of book, there are many examples, and the important things are
probably all in there somewhere.

I started with Learning Python, and I like that book. It explains the
basics of the language well. But it doesn't go into loads of examples
on case studies or so, you will understand the language but you won't be
immediately familiar with the whole library. Maybe you can study the only
tutorial well and skip this.

Python Essential Reference is a nice reference book. It has a short
tutorial, then a good reference on the language and of the standard
library. One of the best books out there at the moment.

More books at http://www.python.org/psa/bookstore/

There is good online documentation at http://www.python.org/doc/current/ .

There are things out there on the web that explain Python to Perl programmers,
but I can't find them at the moment. 

There are some posts by Tom Christiansen to this group that you can find
on Deja about Perl v Python, those may be useful.

-- 
Remco Gerlich

> 
> man python on my machine doesn't work, I'm assuming something is wrong
> or maybe its a perldoc equivalent?  Where can I find the FAQs?
> 
> Thanks in advanced for any help or suggestions.
> 
> --
>  Richard Zilavec
>  rzilavec at tcn.net