Learning Django+Pinax - Recommend books and/or tutorials?
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Alec Taylor
Jan 25, 2012, 8:42:59 PM1/25/12
to django...@googlegroups.com, pinax...@googlegroups.com
A friend of mine is joining my team, but unfortunately only knows a
little Python (CGI) and neither Django nor Pinax.
little Python (CGI) and neither Django nor Pinax.
Which books and/or online tutorials should I recommend to him?
I am thinking:
- https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/intro/
- http://www.lightbird.net/dbe/
But not sure if the second link is still valid for 1.4, and if I'd be
better off giving a textbook of some description to him.
What would you recommend?
Thanks for all suggestion,
Alec Taylor
John Wong
Jan 26, 2012, 12:39:42 AM1/26/12
to pinax...@googlegroups.com, django...@googlegroups.com
I think I am qualified to give you advice. When I say "qualified", I really mean it.
First, I am not a very strong programmer myself. Even as a CS student, I always feel like I am behind. Nontheless, I am always eager to learn and am very determined to debug for days.
Python is not a big language like C++. There might be a faster way of writing things in Python (such as loop vs comprehension), or making a generator. That's not important. I know Python for three years, but I don't write Python code a lot. When I need to know how to write a particular line in Python, I google it. If not, I post questions on stackoverflow.com (of course the question has ben appear good.....).
I am now doing this research, developing a cloud computing application based on Django, Pylon, and many web technologies (let alone Unix and sysadmin knowledge). Forutunately, I am the webclient developer, and I deal with Django (we choose pinax as a starting base).
I read the Django book twice. But the first time I gave up half way. The second time reading it I took my time. Django is actually very difficult to develop because the framework is powerful. Python as a language alone is very small. It takes no more than 100 pages to teach you everything you need to know about basic python and advanced techniques. Python itself is huge because of its rich libraries.
So little Python is not a problem. Read "Learning Python". Read Definite Guide to Django. Get a django1.3 cheatsheet online. Learn to use virtualenv (or pythonenbrew), pip, yaml, and fabric? I think virtualenv and pip are necessary.
Don't rush him. Give him two weeks to digest the first half of learning python, and definite guide to django. Give him two weeks, and he will be happy. Then let him read the source code, and if the project is small, printing out source code isn't bad at all. Otherwise a few days of exploring will serve him well.
I am picking up a legacy work, and it took me a while to get a hang of it for a django beginnger.
Pinax itself is like a wrapper on top of django IMHO. There is no mystery.
First, I am not a very strong programmer myself. Even as a CS student, I always feel like I am behind. Nontheless, I am always eager to learn and am very determined to debug for days.
Python is not a big language like C++. There might be a faster way of writing things in Python (such as loop vs comprehension), or making a generator. That's not important. I know Python for three years, but I don't write Python code a lot. When I need to know how to write a particular line in Python, I google it. If not, I post questions on stackoverflow.com (of course the question has ben appear good.....).
I am now doing this research, developing a cloud computing application based on Django, Pylon, and many web technologies (let alone Unix and sysadmin knowledge). Forutunately, I am the webclient developer, and I deal with Django (we choose pinax as a starting base).
I read the Django book twice. But the first time I gave up half way. The second time reading it I took my time. Django is actually very difficult to develop because the framework is powerful. Python as a language alone is very small. It takes no more than 100 pages to teach you everything you need to know about basic python and advanced techniques. Python itself is huge because of its rich libraries.
So little Python is not a problem. Read "Learning Python". Read Definite Guide to Django. Get a django1.3 cheatsheet online. Learn to use virtualenv (or pythonenbrew), pip, yaml, and fabric? I think virtualenv and pip are necessary.
Don't rush him. Give him two weeks to digest the first half of learning python, and definite guide to django. Give him two weeks, and he will be happy. Then let him read the source code, and if the project is small, printing out source code isn't bad at all. Otherwise a few days of exploring will serve him well.
I am picking up a legacy work, and it took me a while to get a hang of it for a django beginnger.
Pinax itself is like a wrapper on top of django IMHO. There is no mystery.
Alec Taylor
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Steven Elliott Jr
Jan 26, 2012, 9:28:55 AM1/26/12
to django...@googlegroups.com
To get started with Python:
What would you recommend?
To get started with Django:
There is no reason why you could not learn both things at the same time. Contrary to previous statements, Django and Python are not hard to get started with but are hard to master (as is anything). I like both of the Django books because they actually focus on building something meaningful and not just giving you an overview of the framework. The Django book is also a great reference book but I have never read it through cover-to-cover. I use it more as a reference when I am stuck on something and need some clarity. Also, I would really recommend going through the documentation for both Python and Django extensively, both are excellent.
Cheers,
Steven
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