Python 2.1 Bible [Paperback]

Dave Brueck (Author), Stephen Tanner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764548077 | ISBN-13: 978-0764548079 | Publication Date: June 29, 2001 | Edition: 1

The Python 2.1 Bible provides the only complete Python language reference on the market and includes all the information and software that developers need to use Python as a rapid application development tool.

The Python 2.1 Bible fills a critical void in the Python reference market. Although it includes a complete Python language reference section, it is still geared towards those of you who already have some programming experience. This book explains each piece of technology in depth and shows through clear examples why each feature is useful. This is the manual you've been waiting for -- the one that covers all major Python components without glossing over how the various pieces fit together.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

If Python 2.1 can do it, you can do it too ... Packed with crystal-clear explanations, hands-on examples, and a complete language reference, this authoritative guide gives you all the tools you need for rapid application development with Python 2.1. From variables, expressions, and other basics to XML, multimedia, and multithreading, Python pros Dave Brueck and Stephen Tanner show you step by step how to master Python components, put them together, and create full-featured applications - in practically no time! Inside, you'll find complete coverage of Python 2.1
* Get up to speed on basics with a quick one-hour tutorial
* Work with Python data types, expressions, and object-oriented features
* Take advantage of Python operating system services and database features
* Create Web-savvy applications that can handle Internet data and parse XML
* Build graphical applications using Tkinter and wxPython
* Process sound and image files
* Harness multithreading, encryption, tokenizing, and other advanced techniques
* Use Python tools to create number-crunching routines and internationalized applications
* Distribute Python applications and modules on a Windows or UNIX system
www.hungryminds.com

About the Author

About the Authors Dave Brueck is a professional software developer who loves to use Python whenever possible. His current projects include developing networked games, developing Python interfaces to his stockbroker's C SDK, and plotting to overturn various world governments. Previously Dave was a contributing author to 3D Studio Max R3 Bible by Kelly Murdock, published by Hungry Minds (formerly IDG Books Worldwide). Stephen Tanner is currently using Python to build a black-box software testing framework. His side projects include Python tools to perform probabilistic derivatives-trading analysis, and to download mass quantities of .mp3s. Aside from their "real" jobs, Dave and Stephen enjoy convincing people to pay them big bucks for consulting jobs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 731 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (June 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764548077
• ISBN-13: 978-0764548079
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,532,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Thorough, with a Few Surprises, August 7, 2001

By 

Michael R Bernstein (Las Vegas, NV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Python 2.1 Bible (Paperback)

Disclaimer: I am a Hungry Minds author, currently working on a book whose topic is related to this one's.

Frankly, I really wasn't expecting to like this book. I'm not the kind of guy that buys 'doorstop books' (How to Teach Yourself to be an Idiot in 24 hours), but I figured I'd give this a shot.

I was very surprised at how well the authors managed to cover all the basics with clarity, without resorting t the gratuitous screenshots that many books are prone to. I was also very pleased that they included detailed information on a variety of advanced topics that just don't get covered in many other books, like:

- Embedding the Python interpreter in your programs

- Building a command interpreter (a mini-language) using Python

- An overview of the available IDEs for Python

...and other gems.

As a tutorial, the first section of the book performs admirably, with just the right level of detail. There are a few extras included, such as coverage of arrays, that are not strictly part of the core Python language, but are useful if you are learning Python as second language.

As a general language reference, the book works fairly well, though I still prefer the smaller form-factor of dedicated reference books for this purpose, such as New Rider's 'Python Essential Reference'. In fact, the large size of the book (which makes it hard to hold comfortably) is the only reason that I'm giving it four stars, instead of five.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 100% Comprehensive is an UNDERSTATEMENT!!, July 9, 2001

By 

tbye "tbye" (Salt Lake City, UT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Python 2.1 Bible (Paperback)

Looking to tackle Python? I've been shopping for a scripting language and juggled back and forth between tcl, perl, python and ruby... and this book sealed Python as the language for me. Whether you're on a Unix platform or using Windows, looking to build scripting tools, or full-blown gui interfaces, Python is the language for you, and the Python 2.1 Bible will bring you up to speed with everything you need to design, develop and deploy your application using the barrage of tools available in Python. Especially worth reading are the chapters on threading and regular expressions for you hard core folks looking for flexibility and performance. If Brueck's detailed treatment of the existing Python modules don't win you over, his in depth walk through of extending Python by building your own modules in 'C' will. No Python programmer should be without this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Tutorial and Reference Book, August 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Python 2.1 Bible (Paperback)

Filled with clear, detailed explanations of it's many functions and modules, and organized into distinct topics by chapter, the Python 2.1 Bible is one of the better books about Python programming.

The first 12 chapters cover all the basics from expressions and strings to working with files, directories, and data storage.

The remaining pages discuss some of the most common applications of the language from networking to user interfaces as well as some topics that aren't really covered in other books like image and sound processing.

Despite it's detail, the Python 2.1 Bible does gloss over Object Oriented Programming a bit, preferring to describe the syntax and Python-centric operations rather than explain the hows and whys of OOP in and of itself. Suffice to say that if you have many questions about OOP in general, you will need to consult a different book.

Also, there are some typos and other errors which may cause newbies a bit of frustration. For example, a sample program for a simple curses (text-based GUI) menu declared a variable with the incorrect name. This kind of editorial SNAFU is rather annoying, especially for a book geared for beginning to intermediate users, but unfortunately prevalent in many technical books on the market as well.

However despite these quibbles, the Bible does provide an excellent starting point for newbies and may even shed some light for advanced users.

Overall, this is a well-written book about the Python language that will appeal to novice and intermediate programmers.