An Introduction to Python [Paperback]

Guido van Rossum (Author), Jr. Fred L. Drake (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

This manual provides an introduction to Python, an easy to learn object-oriented programming language. Python combines power with clear syntax. It has modules, classes, exceptions, very high level data types, and dynamic typing. Python can link directly to libraries written in C or C++ and can be embedded as an extension language for applications that need a programmable interface. Python is free software. It can be used with GNU (GNU/Linux), Unix, Microsoft Windows and many other systems. This is a printed copy of the official Python tutorial from the Python 2.5 distribution. For each copy sold $1 is donated to the Python Software Foundation by the publisher.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Guido van Rossum is the inventor of Python. Fred L. Drake, Jr. is the official editor of the Python documentation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Network Theory Ltd. (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0954161769
• ISBN-13: 978-0954161767
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #418,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book, December 18, 2007

By 

Sean Fritz (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Python (Paperback)

I have read several texts on python, all of them basically teaching me Java with python syntax. This is the first book I've read that taught me python with python syntax.

Pros: You will finally understand how to write python code. The book leaves no part of the language uncovered.

Cons: This is really a language reference, if you don't know how to program well in another language I don't know if it would be spectacularly useful. It does not cover any API's extensively.

I love it, and for the price you can't go wrong.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Concise Introduction to Python, January 5, 2009

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Wayne Cannon "Wayne" (Healdsburg, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Python (Paperback)

This is the most concise, yet thorough, description of Python I have found among a half-dozen of the most highly-rated books about Python. It is thorough, yet to the point. It covers aspects of Python not found in any of the other books (I found the online version of this book by searching for such a topic, but wanted the physical book). Guido van Rossum is the author of the Python Language, so he is the definitive source for information about Python; and his books are very readable.

This book is very readable for anyone who is experienced in another language. Although Python itself may be a good first language, this book is a bit too concise for someone learning a programming language for the first time. For such a person, I would recommend "The Quick Python Book" by Harms and McDonald ("Dive Into Python" by Pilgrim and "Core Python Programming" by Chun are also good).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Introduction to Python, August 1, 2008

By 

David W. Abbott "comprookie2000" (Fort Lauderdale, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Python (Paperback)

Good book for a beginner like me. Recently updated for python 2.5. I like the author's style and also because he offers the book for free on the web. I wanted to support the author for all of his hard work.