Tools for learning Python
 

Again, this question came from a hijacked thread, but addresses important issues.

I would like to get a feel for programming, can anyone suggest any books or free tutorial websites? I heard that Python is easy to understand and learn.

Some suggestions given were:
http://wiki.python.org/moin/Beginner...ersGuide%2F%29
http://greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkCSpy.pdf
http://www.programmingforums.org/for...ial-links.html

Get a book with the word "Beginner" in the title.

I learned Python by reading Dive Into Python by Mark Pilgrim. It is published under the GNU Free Documentation License, so you can read it in full online.

Here are a couple of sites I used for learning Python:
http://www.awaretek.com/tutorials.html
http://bembry.org/technology/python/index.php
http://www.ibiblio.org/g2swap/byteofpython/read/
http://sebsauvage.net/python/

What I used to help me teach my 12 year old cousing how to program in python.

http://www.livewires.org.uk/python/

That's great because I'm trying to teach my little brother, but he doesn't understand. I'm definitely introducing him to that.

I saw a question in another thread requesting information on transitioning from another language to Python, in which case the essential reference is the Python Cookbook 2nd edition (It's really the only dead-tree source that is an essential read). A reasonably good online reference is at PLEAC, which translates examples from the Perl Cookbook 1st edition.

-T.

Re: Tools for learning Python
 

Here are some good collection of free python books
Download Free Python Books

Re: Tools for learning Python
 

Good thread, lots of resources I haven't seen before

a mod should consider making this sticky.

Re: Tools for learning Python
 

I looked at it, it was fine untill I hit the create your own program part, the stuff that came before anyone who can read would understand but then suddenly:| bang! he is using classes, importing functions, using foreign commands, that he never truely explains

Re: Tools for learning Python
 

Python Programming for the Complete Beginner by Michael Dawson. It's incredibly engaging and I have learned so much so fast. It's not like the boring textbook stuff either. The first sentence of the first chapter is "Programming basically is getting your computer to do stuff." I mean come on, who doesn't want to read this? It's gold.

Anyway, it was $30 and in three days I have gotten more than what I paid out of it.