Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
On Fri, 10 Feb 2006, Carroll, Barry wrote: > Another book I have just found that may turn out useful is "Python > Programming Patterns" by Thomas W. Christopher, published by Prentice > Hall PTR. I got that from the library about a year ago. I found it interesting, but not too helpful. One problem is that it explains a Python feature in terms of other python features only, and you don't really get the flavor of what the heck the feature being described actually can do for you; although I'm sure the description of the feature is technically correct. I recently happened across a cheap copy used, and bought it; it was worth the money for the used copy, but I wouldn't have bought it new. (Unfortunately, the copy is at my office, and I'm at home, so unable to provide a good concrete example.) ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
It's the Python Essential Reference book, Third Edition due out February 24. I'm not aware of a new Nutshell coming out. On Fri, 10 Feb 2006 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > See I couldn't tell if he was talking about the Nutshell book or the Python > Essential Reference book...thanks > Carl > > On 2/10/06, nephish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > yeah, one of the guys that posted earlier mentioned late feb as a > > release of the new one. i think i am going to go ahead and get the > > cookbook now, and then pick up the new nutshell later. > > sk > > > > > ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
Greetings:
I have been programming in Python for about a year. We use Python 2.3;
we haven't migrated to 2.4 because the Real-time OS we use in our test
systems doesn't yet support it. I have the four O'Reilly 'standards' as
well ("Nutshell", "Learning", "Cookbook", and "Programming"). I use
"Nutshell" and "Learning" the most by far. When I'm looking for a
detailed example of some implementation I will look through "Cookbook"
or "Programming", but when I need to look up usage or syntax, or remind
myself how some feature works, I go to "Nutshell" first and then
"Learning" I use them both nearly every day. I find that "Nutshell"
supports 2.3 very well. Don't know about 2.4.
Another book I have just found that may turn out useful is "Python
Programming Patterns" by Thomas W. Christopher, published by Prentice
Hall PTR. From the reviews I've read, It isn't really a 'design
patterns' book in the usual sense, but it contains good demonstrations
of applying Python to solve real problems. I don't know for myself yet,
as I just ordered it yesterday. We'll see.
Regards,
Barry
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
541-302-1107
"Never trust anything that can think for itself
if you can't see where it keeps its brain"
JK Rowling
> -Original Message-
> --
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 02:18:20 +
> From: nephish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: [Tutor] nutshell review
> To: tutor@python.org
> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Content-Type: text/plain
>
> lo there,
> i know this comes up from time to time. i am considering buying
'python
> in a nutshell'. All the reviews i have read for it are very good. But
it
> only covers up to python 2.2. i use 2.3 at work, and tinker with 2.4
at
> home. As good a reference as it is, is it too dated to be that good
> still ? i have 'Learning Python' and 'Programming Python'. Learning is
> awesome for me, Programming is a bit over my head.
> any suggestions?
___
Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org
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Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
Thanks for the info.../sigh well I shall be waiting with bells onCarlOn 2/10/06, Kent Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:nephish wrote:> yeah, one of the guys that posted earlier mentioned late feb as a > release of the new one. i think i am going to go ahead and get the> cookbook now, and then pick up the new nutshell later.It's the third edition of Python Essential Reference that is due Feb 24. Judging from his posts to comp.lang.python, Alex Martelli is working ona second edition of the Nutshell - or at least feeling guilty about*not* working on it - but I haven't seen any dates.Kent___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.orghttp://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
nephish wrote: > yeah, one of the guys that posted earlier mentioned late feb as a > release of the new one. i think i am going to go ahead and get the > cookbook now, and then pick up the new nutshell later. It's the third edition of Python Essential Reference that is due Feb 24. Judging from his posts to comp.lang.python, Alex Martelli is working on a second edition of the Nutshell - or at least feeling guilty about *not* working on it - but I haven't seen any dates. Kent ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
See I couldn't tell if he was talking about the Nutshell book or the Python Essential Reference book...thanksCarlOn 2/10/06, nephish < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:yeah, one of the guys that posted earlier mentioned late feb as a release of the new one. i think i am going to go ahead and get thecookbook now, and then pick up the new nutshell later.sk ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
yeah, one of the guys that posted earlier mentioned late feb as a release of the new one. i think i am going to go ahead and get the cookbook now, and then pick up the new nutshell later. sk On Fri, 2006-02-10 at 09:56 -0600, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Isn't there supposed to be a new edition of the Nutshell book coming > out? I was kinda hanging back for that one... > Carl Badgley > ___ > Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
Isn't there supposed to be a new edition of the Nutshell book coming out? I was kinda hanging back for that one...Carl Badgley ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
> That tracks my feelings. I don't find "Programming Python" to be very > useful. It's not the sort of reference book that, say, "Programming Perl" > > hasten to add, I've seen enough people swear how much they love that book, > that this may just be idiosyncratic to me.) One thing to note about PP is that it is really two very different books. It was originally the second book ever published on Python and as such tried to be both tutorial and reference and cookbook. Naturally it failed (although not too badly or Python would probably not have taken off!) on asll counts. By the time the current (2nd edition) came out there were lots of Python tutorials so this version aims at being an advanced topic guide. It looks at lots of areas that were not very well covbered in other tutorials. It is not a tutorial and not really a reference guide either, its probably closest to the cookbook in spirit but less specific. There is a 3rd edition coming out that is allegedly going to target even more advanced topics and I have my name down with Amazon for that one... :-) > I think a good Python *reference* book is invaluable to any Python > programmer. And to me, that book is Python in a Nutshell. Me too. > Python Essential Reference - When I first started playing with Python, > ... > The Third Edition is coming out February 24, which means it will be the > most current Python reference book, when published. I would be surprised > if it didn't cover through 2.4. According to Amazon it does... But despite opwning both of the prevbious editions I don't think I'll be buying this one. The Nutshell is still current enough for me - all the really big changes in Puython happened in 2.2! Alan G. ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
Sounds like its worth the wait. thanks all. shawn On Thu, 2006-02-09 at 19:02 -0800, Terry Carroll wrote: > On Fri, 10 Feb 2006, nephish wrote: > > > i know this comes up from time to time. i am considering buying 'python > > in a nutshell'. All the reviews i have read for it are very good. But it > > only covers up to python 2.2. i use 2.3 at work, and tinker with 2.4 at > > home. As good a reference as it is, is it too dated to be that good > > still ? > > No, it's not too dated. I still use it constantly as my main reference. > When I know a facility is post-2.2, I use the online docs instead. But my > preference is definitely for the Nutshell. Alex explains things > extraordinarily well, in my opinion. The book is well-organized > and well-indexed, so you can find things pretty easily. > > Two thumbs up, from here. > > > i have 'Learning Python' and 'Programming Python'. Learning is > > awesome for me, Programming is a bit over my head. > > That tracks my feelings. I don't find "Programming Python" to be very > useful. It's not the sort of reference book that, say, "Programming Perl" > occupies on the Perl world. My own take on PP is that you can't open it > up to a discussion of a particular feature and understand that feature > without understanding a lot of other things having nothing to do with the > feature, but that are implicit in the explanations and examples. (But I > hasten to add, I've seen enough people swear how much they love that book, > that this may just be idiosyncratic to me.) > > I think a good Python *reference* book is invaluable to any Python > programmer. And to me, that book is Python in a Nutshell. > > There are a couple others that are good, too: > > The Python 2.1 Bible - 2.1, obviously; I don't know if there's a later > version; > > > The Complete Python Reference - published 2001, so bound to be a bit > dated) > > Python Essential Reference - When I first started playing with Python, a > library copy of this was my reference. I liked it, but I like the > Nutshell just a little better, but that may be a matter of familiarity. > If you're going for this one, I'd suggest waiting another couple of weeks. > The Third Edition is coming out February 24, which means it will be the > most current Python reference book, when published. I would be surprised > if it didn't cover through 2.4. > > > ___ > Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
On Thu, 9 Feb 2006, Andre Roberge wrote: > I own about 10 Python books including Learning Python, Programming > Python and Python in a Nutshell. Of these three, Python in a Nutshell > is the one I find the most useful. The Python Cookbook (2nd ed) is my > other favourite. Your mileage may vary... I love the Cookbook, but it's not a reference and it does not do a very good job if you try to force it into that role. As I read through it, I see recipes that use some feature -- usually a library call -- I don't know, and I can't find out what the thing does from the context. I have to go look it up in another book, like the Nutshell. That's not a bad thing. If the Cookbook explained every little part of every recipe, it would be way too long, and the editors would have had to cut out half the recipes to make it a reaonsble size. My only point is that, great as it is, it's not a reference book, and shouldn't be expected to be one. Man, I probably have about 10 Python books, too (including both editions of the Cookbook), and I only program for fun. ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
On Fri, 10 Feb 2006, nephish wrote: > i know this comes up from time to time. i am considering buying 'python > in a nutshell'. All the reviews i have read for it are very good. But it > only covers up to python 2.2. i use 2.3 at work, and tinker with 2.4 at > home. As good a reference as it is, is it too dated to be that good > still ? No, it's not too dated. I still use it constantly as my main reference. When I know a facility is post-2.2, I use the online docs instead. But my preference is definitely for the Nutshell. Alex explains things extraordinarily well, in my opinion. The book is well-organized and well-indexed, so you can find things pretty easily. Two thumbs up, from here. > i have 'Learning Python' and 'Programming Python'. Learning is > awesome for me, Programming is a bit over my head. That tracks my feelings. I don't find "Programming Python" to be very useful. It's not the sort of reference book that, say, "Programming Perl" occupies on the Perl world. My own take on PP is that you can't open it up to a discussion of a particular feature and understand that feature without understanding a lot of other things having nothing to do with the feature, but that are implicit in the explanations and examples. (But I hasten to add, I've seen enough people swear how much they love that book, that this may just be idiosyncratic to me.) I think a good Python *reference* book is invaluable to any Python programmer. And to me, that book is Python in a Nutshell. There are a couple others that are good, too: The Python 2.1 Bible - 2.1, obviously; I don't know if there's a later version; The Complete Python Reference - published 2001, so bound to be a bit dated) Python Essential Reference - When I first started playing with Python, a library copy of this was my reference. I liked it, but I like the Nutshell just a little better, but that may be a matter of familiarity. If you're going for this one, I'd suggest waiting another couple of weeks. The Third Edition is coming out February 24, which means it will be the most current Python reference book, when published. I would be surprised if it didn't cover through 2.4. ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
thanks man, ill check out cookbook & see what its all about, too. sk On Thu, 2006-02-09 at 22:22 -0400, Andre Roberge wrote: > On 2/9/06, nephish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > lo there, > > i know this comes up from time to time. i am considering buying 'python > > in a nutshell'. All the reviews i have read for it are very good. But it > > only covers up to python 2.2. i use 2.3 at work, and tinker with 2.4 at > > home. As good a reference as it is, is it too dated to be that good > > still ? i have 'Learning Python' and 'Programming Python'. Learning is > > awesome for me, Programming is a bit over my head. > > any suggestions? > > > I own about 10 Python books including Learning Python, Programming > Python and Python in a Nutshell. Of these three, Python in a Nutshell > is the one I find the most useful. The Python Cookbook (2nd ed) is my > other favourite. Your mileage may vary... > > André ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] nutshell review
On 2/9/06, nephish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > lo there, > i know this comes up from time to time. i am considering buying 'python > in a nutshell'. All the reviews i have read for it are very good. But it > only covers up to python 2.2. i use 2.3 at work, and tinker with 2.4 at > home. As good a reference as it is, is it too dated to be that good > still ? i have 'Learning Python' and 'Programming Python'. Learning is > awesome for me, Programming is a bit over my head. > any suggestions? > I own about 10 Python books including Learning Python, Programming Python and Python in a Nutshell. Of these three, Python in a Nutshell is the one I find the most useful. The Python Cookbook (2nd ed) is my other favourite. Your mileage may vary... André ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
[Tutor] nutshell review
lo there, i know this comes up from time to time. i am considering buying 'python in a nutshell'. All the reviews i have read for it are very good. But it only covers up to python 2.2. i use 2.3 at work, and tinker with 2.4 at home. As good a reference as it is, is it too dated to be that good still ? i have 'Learning Python' and 'Programming Python'. Learning is awesome for me, Programming is a bit over my head. any suggestions? ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
