Re: [PyMNtos] Re: Python Book Recommendations? My Library =

[r j]

Hello pythonistas, I am Ron the amateur python programmer who was asking for info about python networking,
I have these python books Learning Python by mark Lutz_____ great book for learning the language and the interpreter.
programming python, pretty good learn by example book ( like learning Python, it is very in depth about what is happening behind the scenes)
Python network programming By john Goerzen, good coverage of some python network aspects covers alot of the same ground python programming does, like mod-python for Apache, client server implementations, Apress Books, Apress mover much faster and read faster then the O'reilly Python books in my opinion.
python in a nut shell ( O'reilly) python Essential Reference, In nutshell is just that and essential reference covers a lot of the standard library.
Iron python is python for .NET have only glanced at it thus far.
Grey Hat Python build your own debugger, fuzz windows drivers , and other fun stuff still reading that one, It reminds me of Hacking the art of Exploitation but less comprehensive with the assembly language, but still a very good low level review.also introduced me to ctypes in python  here is a quote.
" Creating a C datatype in Python is just down right sexy, in that nerdy,weird way. Having this feature allows you to fulley intregrate with components written in C and C++, Witch greatly increases the power of python."

Thanks for putting up with my ignorant  comments and questions at the meeting,
Just want to learn more,Ron

On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 10:50 AM, Max Harper <maxh...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for all the feedback.

It looks like "Expert Python Programming" is what I'm looking for.  It
is also recommended several times in related stack overflow threads.

Thanks for the other pointers, too.  I had not seen the Google style
guide; it is succinct and useful.

Max


Some synthesis:

Books:

* Expert Python Programming.
http://www.packtpub.com/expert-python-programming/book  Seems very
promising; I will check this out.

* Programming Python.  http://www.amazon.com/dp/0596009259/  An
often-recommended reference.

* Python 3 Patterns and Idioms.  (from a linked stack overflow thread)
 http://bitbucket.org/BruceEckel/python-3-patterns-idioms/  This book
sounded promising, but looks like a dead project and is not useful in
its current form.

* Python Cookbook. (from a linked stack overflow thread)
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596001674/  Large compilation of python
scripts.  Recommended several times in stack overflow.

Web sites:

* http://google-styleguide.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/pyguide.html

Style guide + best practices.

* http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/ Style guide + best practices.

On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 4:44 PM, Andrew Carter <andrew...@gmail.com> wrote:
> You've probably already stumbled across this, but a great site to check out
> is:
>
> http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/
>
> In addition to style guidelines / constraints, favoured programming
> techniques are discussed as well (for example, there is a great section on
> how you should do try / except programming).
>
> Also google published
> http://google-styleguide.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/pyguide.html
>
> which contains their thoughts on both style and what you should use from the
> language (e.g. take it easy on the fancy spices like metaclasses, etc).
>
> It's pretty surface but does cover some of the 'I want to adopt best
> practices as I work and avoid poor practices' request.
>
> Andrew
>
>
>
> On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 4:32 PM, Jens Knutson <jens.k...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> I would recommend looking at "Expert Python Programming: Best
>> practices for designing, coding, and distributing your Python
>> software".
>>
>> The publisher's page is here:
>> http://www.packtpub.com/expert-python-programming/book
>> ...and a sample chapter is here:
>>
>> http://www.packtpub.com/files/expert-python-programming-sample-chapter-chapter-10-documenting-your-project.pdf
>>
>> I haven't read it myself *yet*, but the reviews I've seen have put it
>> very next in line in my reading list.  According to the majority of
>> those reviews, the book is far from perfect - lots of editing errors,
>> as the author's native tongue is not English - but as a whole, it's
>> valuable enough for what it does to be more than worthwhile.
>>
>> Also, if you find some good suggestions elsewhere, report it back to
>> the list!  I'd love to hear more about additional "best practices"
>> Python books!
>>
>> Good luck,
>> Jens
>>
>>
>> On Dec 12, 12:37 pm, Max Harper <maxhar...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Hey all, I enjoyed the meeting the other night.
>> >
>> > I'm looking for Python book recommendations.  I'm an experienced
>> > software developer, and I'm very comfortable in Python.  What I'm
>> > looking for is an "advanced" book that will help me adopt best
>> > practices as I work and avoid poor practices (I'm not looking for a
>> > reference guide or tutorials, which seem to be the focus of most
>> > technical books).
>> >
>> > Specifically, last year I read the fabulous "Effective Java"
>> > (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0201310058), and I find myself referring to
>> > it frequently when I code in Java.  Is there a similar book in Python?
>> >  If not books, web sites?
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> >
>> > Max
>
>

--
You do not know the power of the dark side.

[Jens Knutson]

Hi Ron,

Have you tried doing much actual hacking around the kind of Python networking code you're talking about?  It seems like you've probably read almost everything there is to read on the topic, reference-wise.

If you haven't tried out much actual code, block off an evening, lock yourself in your den/bedroom/basement, and just spend several hours just hacking away, playing with this stuff.  There's nothing like experience as a teacher!  Plus, it's *Python*, so even if the learning curve is steep, at least you'll have a pleasant journey. :-)

(Forgive me if I'm wrong in my presumptuous guess about how much you've gotten your hands dirty with this kind of code!  If that's the case, do you have anything interesting to relate around what you've tried and how it went?)

- Jens

-- "We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements in life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about." - Charles Kingsley