Python Pocket Reference (Pocket Reference (O'Reilly)) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Lutz Mark (Author)
Key Phrases: sys module, iteration contexts, string module, Python Pocket Reference, Specific Built-in Types, Built-in Functions (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Python is optimized for quality, productivity, portability, and integration. Hundreds of thousands of Python developers around the world rely on Python for general-purpose tasks, Internet scripting, systems programming, user interfaces, and product customization. Available on all major computing platforms, including commercial versions of Unix, Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X, Python is portable, powerful and remarkable easy to use. With its convenient, quick-reference format, Python Pocket Reference, 3rd Edition is the perfect on-the-job reference. More importantly, it's now been refreshed to cover the language's latest release, Python 2.4. For experienced Python developers, this book is a compact toolbox that delivers need-to-know information at the flip of a page. This third edition also includes an easy-lookup index to help developers find answers fast! Python 2.4 is more than just optimization and library enhancements; it's also chock full of bug fixes and upgrades. And these changes are addressed in the Python Pocket Reference, 3rd Edition. New language features, new and upgraded built-ins, and new and upgraded modules and packages--they're all clarified in detail. The Python Pocket Reference, 3rd Edition serves as the perfect companion to Learning Python and Programming Python.

About the Author

Mark Lutz is the world leader in Python training, the author of Python's earliest and best-selling texts, and a pioneering figure in the Python community since 1992. He is also the author of O'Reilly's Programming Python and Python Pocket Reference, and co-author of Learning Python (all in 3rd Editions). Mark can be reached on the web at www.rmi.net.

Product Details

• Paperback: 158 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 3 edition (February 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596009402
• ISBN-13: 978-0596009403
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #472,928 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This item is part of The O'Reilly Pocket Guides Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great reference, March 16, 1999

By	T E Whalen (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Python Pocket Reference (Paperback)

This is a very handy and nice-looking reference to Python. With concise documentation on most of the common modules and built-ins, I find it indispensible when I'm working quickly. This is a great little book to carry around in your bag, because it's small and unobtrusive.

Makes a great companion to the online documentation, and is a handy first reference. Complex questions should refer to the documentation, but this is great for quick questions.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Object achieved, June 26, 2005

By	C. M. Lowry (Columbia JUG, Columbia, SC USA) - See all my reviews

While this is not the tool for learning Python, it is a valuable reference. It is amazing how much information that is packed into this small format. Toss it into your laptop bag for a quick reference, particularly since the third edition contains an index and covers Python 2.4.

With so many useful applications using Python as a macro language (e.g. Testmaker), this handy reference will earn its keep. I wonder if O'Reilly has a Ruby on the way, since they have mastered the format.

Of course, there is always the online documentation, if you are online.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference - now with an index!, November 21, 2007

By	J. A. Rodriguez (Queretaro, Mexico) - See all my reviews

I read various reviews complaining about the lack of an index. Well, it does have one now and it complements perfectly what is a fantastic quick reference for many of your Python needs, from built-in modules to regular expressions. Of course, it does not include the formal grammar of the language, a complete reference of libraries available or anything other than quick pointers for someone who already knows what Python is but is not a guru yet (although anyone can forget how to open a file from time to time).