[omaha] Book suggestions for a Perl programmer wanting to learn Python?

[Dan Linder]

Thanks to you and  Matthew Nuzum for the pointers.  I do plan to start
learning with 2.7 so I'll tackle the 3.X changes in the future.

Thanks again,
Dan

On Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 9:37 AM, Jeff Hinrichs - DM&T <jeffh at dundeemt.com>wrote:

> I would suggest a read over the Zen of Python
> http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0020/
>
> When coming from another language, understanding the goals of the language
> helps when you are transitioning/learning.  I believe it helps resolve the
> mental dissonance that occur when you encounter "Why to they do X when I
> use to to X' or Y in my previous language?"
>
> I get quite a bit out of reading well written code in the target language.
>  My first experience with Python was an mp3 server script (edna.py) happily
> written by Greg Stein (a good programmer).  I was coming from a C, VB,
> Pascal type languages.
>
> Best,
>
> Jeff
>
> On Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 9:28 AM, Matthew Nuzum <newz at bearfruit.org> wrote:
>
> > There is a nice low cost and terse book called "Python phrasebook" by
> Brad
> > Dayley which does a good job of explaining the language and demonstrating
> > how to do various common tasks. Reading through it will help you
> understand
> > the language and it has lasting value as a small desk-side reference for
> > those times when you need to jog your memory.
> >
> > An answer to a question you didn't ask that you need to be aware of is
> that
> > the Python community is in a transition while the language makes a
> somewhat
> > major shift. Python 2.7 and Python 3.3 are both supported versions of
> > Python and are different enough that you can get confused if you're not
> > aware of it.
> >
> > I wish I could say, "As a new comer to Python, definitely start with
> Python
> > 3.x," but alas there are some really great python modules that haven't
> > quite yet added Python 3 support. (For example, it is still experimental
> > with Django)
> >
> > Worse, there are few good books that focus on Python 3. So there is a
> good
> > chance that you will write your code with Python 2.7. There's nothing
> wrong
> > with this, but you should be aware of it. For example, if you're using
> > Ubuntu 12.10 you'll have to install Python 2.7 with apt. If you're using
> > Windows make sure to download the proper version.
> >
> > On Fri, Sep 14, 2012 at 9:01 PM, Dan Linder <dan at linder.org> wrote:
> >
> > > For a project I'm deciding to branch out and force myself to do much of
> > it
> > > in Python.  I'm well versed in Perl (functional and object oriented),
> > > anyone have any suggestions for a Python book to pick up that isn't
> going
> > > to spend the first 1/3 of the book describing what a variable is and
> > other
> > > absolute beginner issues?
> > >
> > > For what it's worth, I'm probably going to start with Python 2.7 and
> jump
> > > into 3 when I'm done with my project (many of the modules are 2.X only
> > from
> > > what I understand).
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > Dan
> > >
> > > P.S. I'm watching this guys Python tutorial videos.  Good video
> > production
> > > value, and easy enough to follow along as long as you're quick with the
> > > pause button.
> > >      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uf6wGL8B7g&feature=relmfu
> > >
> > > --
> > > ***************** ************* *********** ******* ***** *** **
> > > "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
> > >     (Who can watch the watchmen?)
> > >     -- from the Satires of Juvenal
> > > "I do not fear computers, I fear the lack of them."
> > >     -- Isaac Asimov (Author)
> > > ** *** ***** ******* *********** ************* *****************
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Matthew Nuzum
> > newz2000 on freenode, skype, linkedin and twitter
> >
> > ♫ You're never fully dressed without a smile! ♫
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> Best,
>
> Jeff Hinrichs
> 402.218.1473
> _______________________________________________
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>



-- 
***************** ************* *********** ******* ***** *** **
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
    (Who can watch the watchmen?)
    -- from the Satires of Juvenal
"I do not fear computers, I fear the lack of them."
    -- Isaac Asimov (Author)
** *** ***** ******* *********** ************* *****************