[Discuss] Looking for Python advice

[Alan W. Irwin]

On 2007-08-18 14:16-0700 Michael wrote:

>    Hello all, I am looking for any and all suggestions regarding
> learning Python. Specifically I have decided to do some minor coding
> after a ten year leave, and have chosen Python as the ideal choice. Any
> tips or suggestions regarding GUI binding, libs, best practises, etc,
> etc, etc, would be greatly appreciated. Currently O'Reilly's
> "Programming Python,.3rd Edition" is my primary learning resource.

Python is an extremely rich and powerful language so I think you have made a
good choice.  The approach I have taken to learning it is just to learn what
I need to get particular tasks done.  The upside of that approach is my
learning is highly motivated, and I have created a whole bunch of useful
Python scripts for my research and software projects. The obvious downside
of the approach is I have just scratched the surface of the language, and
certainly my Python learning is still a work in progress. I should probably
consolidate all the bits and pieces of Python that I know by taking a Python
course some day, but that day hasn't happened yet so I cannot give you any
general tips except be careful of indentation!  :-)

To learn about Python, I have used the many on-line resources you can find
using google and the python.org site.  Also, I bought one book, "Python:
Essential Reference" which is exactly the terse but useful reference that
the title implies. I still like that book and refer to it quite a bit.

Alan
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Alan W. Irwin

Astronomical research affiliation with Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Victoria (astrowww.phys.uvic.ca).

Programming affiliations with the FreeEOS equation-of-state implementation
for stellar interiors (freeeos.sf.net); PLplot scientific plotting software
package (plplot.org); the libLASi project (unifont.org/lasi); the Loads of
Linux Links project (loll.sf.net); and the Linux Brochure Project
(lbproject.sf.net).
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Linux-powered Science
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