Python question (PyNoob)

[Carl Banks]

On Aug 19, 8:33 pm, Anonymous <no.re... at here.com> wrote:
> I have exp with C/C++ (and a few other langs). I want to use Python to
> start doing the ff:
>
> 1). Data Munging (text processing) - instead of Perl
> 2). Automating my build process
> 3). (Possibly) some web data retrieval jobs
>
> Can anyone point me to resurces/possibly scripts that can get me up to
> speed (to do these 3 things) ASAP, without having to learn the basics of
> programming?

You want the Python Library Reference (quod googla).

If you know the basics of programming already, any old Python tutorial
will do, so just skim through the official one (q.g.) to pick up the
syntax and semantic rules.  Then refer to the Library Reference, which
is well organized and make it easy to track down what you need.  The
libraries come with very good built-in support for tasks 1 and 3; for
2 Python supports timestamp checking and subprocess calling and
whatnot, but stuff like dependency trees you'll have to work out
yourself.

(BTW, if "make" is failing or annoying you, you might want to consider
SCons, which for me has been a lot more intelligent and
straightforward than make ever was.)


Carl Banks