Python [Paperback]

Chris Fehily (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201748843 | ISBN-13: 978-0201748840 | Publication Date: November 5, 2001 | Edition: 1

Named after the Monty Python comedy troupe, Python is an interpreted, open-source, object-oriented programming language. It's also free and runs portably on Windows, Mac OS, Unix, and other operating systems. Python can be used for all manner of programming tasks, from CGI scripts to full-fledged applications. It is gaining popularity among programmers in part because it is easier to read (and hence, debug) than most other programming languages, and it's generally simpler to install, learn, and use. Its line structure forces consistent indentation. Its syntax and semantics make it suitable for simple scripts and large programs. Its flexible data structures and dynamic typing allow you to get a lot done in a few lines. To learn it, you'll need is some basic programming experience and a copy of Python: Visual QuickStart Guide.

In patented Visual QuickStart Guide fashion, the book doesn't just tell you how to use Python to develop applications, it shows you, breaking Python into easy-to-digest, step-by-step tasks and providing example code. Python: Visual QuickStart Guide emphasizes the core language and libraries, which are the building blocks for programs. Author Chris Fehily starts with the basics - expressions, statements, numbers, strings - then moves on to lists, dictionaries, functions, and modules before wrapping things up with straightforward discussions of exceptions and classes. Some additional topics covered include:- Object-oriented programming- Working in multiple operating systems- Structuring large programs- Comparing Python to C, Perl, and Java- Handling errors gracefully.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A background in PythonDa free, open-source programming language for web applicationsDis essential for developers using the Zope web application server. Although beginners will find a thorough introduction in The Book of Zope, it is an optional purchase for institutions owning The Zope Book (Computer Media, LJ 11/1/01). Python offers beginning programmers a gentler albeit less thorough entr e into the language than Python Essential Reference (Computer Media, LJ 8/01). Larger libraries where more advanced web development titles circulate should consider both.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

UntitledNamed after the Monty Python comedy troupe, Python is an interpreted, open-source, object-oriented programming language. It's also free and runs portably on Windows, Mac OS, Unix, and other operating systems. Python can be used for all manner of programming tasks, from CGI scripts to full-fledged applications. It is gaining popularity among programmers in part because it is easier to read (and hence, debug) than most other programming languages, and it's generally simpler to install, learn, and use. Its line structure forces consistent indentation. Its syntax and semantics make it suitable for simple scripts and large programs. Its flexible data structures and dynamic typing allow you to get a lot done in a few lines. To learn it, you'll need is some basic programming experience and a copy of Python: Visual QuickStart Guide.

In patented Visual QuickStart Guide fashion, the book doesn't just tell you how to use Python to develop applications, it shows you, breaking Python into easy-to-digest, step-by-step tasks and providing example code. Python: Visual QuickStart Guide emphasizes the core language and libraries, which are the building blocks for programs. Author Chris Fehily starts with the basics - expressions, statements, numbers, strings - then moves on to lists, dictionaries, functions, and modules before wrapping things up with straightforward discussions of exceptions and classes. Some additional topics covered include:- Object-oriented programming- Working in multiple operating systems- Structuring large programs- Comparing Python to C, Perl, and Java- Handling errors gracefully.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press; 1 edition (November 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201748843
• ISBN-13: 978-0201748840
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #775,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title is misleading..., November 29, 2001

By 

anthony cervone (Providence, RI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Python (Paperback)

" Visual Quickstart Guide Python" is the title of the book, not "Python for the WWW, etc" as this site calls it. In fact, there is nothing in it about the WWW. I am not a professional programmer, so this is one of several titles that I purchased to learn the language, and am I glad I did.I am also sorry that it was not my first book, because it would have saved me money and time to get to speed with learning Python. It's the clearest, most attractive( and illustrated, too)and well written book that I've seen so far. Every topic is presented with a sense of order and clarity . For example, when I glanced at the table of contents, I found chapter 10 was dedicated entirely to "Files", some 40 pages covering everything from "opening a file" to "Saving Objects As Files". And when I opened the book to the "Opening a file" page, the first sentence,"Python file operations are done by using file objects rather than file names", told me how intelligently and yet gently the author introduces the student to new and important concepts of the Python language. The page includes "Tips" and a complete code example, neatly separated from the book text, for the student to enter in the computer. I did not have to chase the examples through the text as in some other books. As the author cautions, this book is not intended to be exaustive, especially for advanced programming topics. The 400 pages, however, are a delight to read and use as you learn Python. I've set aside all the other books for now. Thank you Mr. Fehily.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beware: Now an on-demand reprint, April 13, 2007

By 

John Faughnan "John G Faughnan" (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Python (Paperback)

Amazon doesn't allow us to rate the quality of an author's work separately from the publisher's presentation. That's unfortunate, because as an introductory guide to Python this is quite a good work.

Unfortunately, as of 3/07, it's also being published by Peachpit Press as an "on-demand reprint". There is nothing in the Amazon product description to tell you about this change, and indeed I'm not sure Amazon has any way of knowing about it. If you bought this book in a bookstore you'd see the "on-demand reprint" icon on the front cover, but Peachpit Press should have changed the description on Amazon. This reflects poorly on Peachpit, a company I've previously had respect for.

Peachpit's "on-demand reprint" technology is crude. The book resembled the sort of high-quality bound photocopies I used to see sold for $1-$2 in "third world" bookstores twenty years ago. It is entirely gray scale (black and white?) with blurry screen shots and irregular contrast.

The effect is quite annoying. It doesn't make the book worthless by any means, but it hurts. The cover price is $22, $14 is probably a fair sale price IF you know that you're getting an "on-demand reprint". If you can get a used copy you might do better, but of course you might end up with a used "on-demand reprint".

Of course, if you read this you now know what you're getting, and you can make an informed decision without any surprises. Which is as it should be.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, December 5, 2001

By 

Richard Johnson (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Python (Paperback)

Incredibly well written and insightful. This book was *exactly* what I needed to learn python quickly. Instead of filling the book with useless examples that no one would ever use in `real' life, Mr. Fehily has refreshingly provided just the right amount of code and commentary that got me up to speed with the language so that I could focus on using python in my own development.

Mr. Fehily has found just the right balance between a tutorial style teaching book and a well-organized reference book. Not only was it great while I was learning the language, but now it's the first place that I look when I run into trouble.

While not for first time programmers, this is definitely the book to buy if you need (or want) to learn python.