Python Study Group proposal

[Vogateer]

Well, looks like you certainly can color code the "preformatted text" in Mediawiki. Perhaps we could use Wikia wikicities:

http://www.wikia.com/wiki/Wikicities

Looks like it requires approval, doubtful we would be approved for that.

[Linc]

I think it's a fantastic idea. I created a wiki to get us started:
http://tllts-study-group.wikispot.org/
Though if anyone else can set up a better one I'd welcome it. (edit: I decided to go with a free hosted wiki b/c i realized setting up a wiki manually on my cheapo web host account was harder than it first seemed)

Why not just start a series of pages off the TLLTS Wiki? The address is:
http://tllts.org/wiki/
and the edit password is "nospammers".

[Vogateer]

Thanks for the offer Linc!

[Patrick]

I've been toying with learning python for some time now. I think this well give me a little kick in the ass to get going. Count me in.

[Vogateer]

Just started playing with the wiki, and it looks like it handles color coding quite well:
http://tllts.org/wiki/index.php?n=Main.PythonStudyGroup

Only thing is that the wiki code looks awfully cluttered when you add colors to it, I can see why they avoid it on other wikis.

[TankCatNinjaFish]

I think it's a fantastic idea. I created a wiki to get us started:
http://tllts-study-group.wikispot.org/
Though if anyone else can set up a better one I'd welcome it. (edit: I decided to go with a free hosted wiki b/c i realized setting up a wiki manually on my cheapo web host account was harder than it first seemed)

Why not just start a series of pages off the TLLTS Wiki? The address is:
http://tllts.org/wiki/
and the edit password is "nospammers".

NICE! I didn't know there was already such a thing.

[Vogateer]

So far, then, we have JZA, Pat, riddlebox, ryochan7, TankCatNinjaFish, and myself interested. Sounds like a good group, does anyone have a strong preference for one of the online books mentioned? So far I think Python Programming at wikibooks has received the only mention for recommendation, so shall we start using that text?

Anyone care to comment on their relative skill level? I've managed only simplistic scripts, so far.

[walter_mellon]

I have been studying Python for about three months using several introductory texts. While I am no expert, here is my two cents about the books you should be reading:

First of all, do NOT use Learning Python by O' Reilly. This is too turgid and arcane for beginning programmers. Do not expect the equivalent of Learning Perl, a much easier book. Learning Python should be your second or even third book.

You should start, seriously, with Python for Dummies. Normally I don't like dummies books, but I was amazed at how clearly this title explained Python concepts. It also explains the new 2.5 stuff. This may be the single best beginner's book I have read for any language.

Next, or simultaneously, use either Beginning Python by Hetland or Python Programming by John Zelle. Both are available out there on Bittorrent.

I haven't read the new Core Python book yet, but it got a great review on the Python 411 podcast. It is next on my list.

Check out some of the Python videos on ShowMeDo. Most of them are free.

Good luck with your study; I hope this helps.

[riddlebox]

Sounds like we are getting far, now we just have to figure out what book or tutorial we will start with, and when we will meet to talk about each chapter or section

[TankCatNinjaFish]

So far, then, we have JZA, Pat, riddlebox, ryochan7, TankCatNinjaFish, and myself interested. Sounds like a good group, does anyone have a strong preference for one of the online books mentioned? So far I think Python Programming at wikibooks has received the only mention for recommendation, so shall we start using that text?

Anyone care to comment on their relative skill level? I've managed only simplistic scripts, so far.

(Note I'm already a programmer by trade). Dive into Python seems to be for people who are already programmers; it starts off with harder examples and tackles a lot of the advanced techniques that make python special.

Byte of Python and Python Programming seem to be on the same level (ie, for non-programmers). BoP seems more verbose but complete to me (PP is missing some it's sections).

My recommendation is BoP -> Dive into Python.

[Jza]

Sounds like we are getting far, now we just have to figure out what book or tutorial we will start with, and when we will meet to talk about each chapter or section

We already on the Wikipedia Wiki book from Python, this seem to be quite updated. Also it seems simple enough as far as I have read I think many non-programmers might tackle on it.

So first topic is the interactive shell, we should get this on our next IRC meeting.

[Vogateer]

(Note I'm already a programmer by trade). Dive into Python seems to be for people who are already programmers; it starts off with harder examples and tackles a lot of the advanced techniques that make python special.

Byte of Python and Python Programming seem to be on the same level (ie, for non-programmers). BoP seems more verbose but complete to me (PP is missing some it's sections).

My recommendation is BoP -> Dive into Python.

I agree with your sentiments on Dive into Python, and I think it even states somewhere that the book is specifically for programmers who want to learn python. Perhaps we can follow up with that one.

Python Programming seems to have the favor, though of course everyone's free to read from Byte of Python if we ever find PP incomplete, or since it's a wiki we could even add something ourselves. I usually do better after reading from multiple texts myself.

[Ryochan7]

I just got a chance to look over the books mentioned and, even though it seems like a choice has been made, I am casting a vote for Python Programming. Following up with Dive into Python would be good as it seems more extensive.

As for my general skill level, I don't have that much experience with Python; I am mainly familiar with C++ because of school. I have been working on a project lately that utilizes Python and PyGTK. Learning how to write a graphical program was something that I had wanted to do for a long time and learning graphical programming in Python made things easier for me. Even though I have learned a bit of Python, I still consider myself a novice at Python.

[Vogateer]

I agree with walter_mellon, Python for Dummies is actually a really good introductory text. I've read a good chunk of a couple of the O'Reilly books—Learning Python and Programming Python, and I say the Dummies book is much clearer and far better organized.

The O'Reilly books read like a tutorial, which is a stylistic choice, I guess, but the Dummies book was laid out so that if you were trying to write a simple script, you could easily find the function you want. I can't say the same for the O'Reilly books. I haven't read anything from Apress, yet, though I hear they have some good stuff, too. Wesley Chun's Core Python might be geared towards people who are more familiar with programming, but I continue to hear such great things about it, and I liked what I heard from his interview on Python411, so I'll probably have to buy it at some point.

[Jza]

Google is the book. Pretty much everything u want to know about python will be on the wikibooks first and then on a paperbag book. The python documentation itself for every version is online while a book wont give u that. As saying newbie or non newbie, I suggest to start checking outt he books we have selected so far and start reading them. I bet you will find it much more simple.

I think the advantage will come from the combination of the descriptions by the different books. But since we are online and not everyone want to buy a paperbag book, I think we should stick with e-books and prefferable free e-books. Which there are and plenty of them.