A friend of mine dropped off a copy of Sams Teach Yourself Python in
24 Hours published in 2000. I skimmed the first couple of chapters
looking for the interpreter version and the book was based on version
Python version 1.5.
Is this book still relevant? Should I toss it and look for something
newer?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Best Regards,
Dave
Yes, you should really toss it. I mean, sure, there's a lot of Python
1.5 that's still here, but there have been major changes in every
minor version since 2.0.
Fred
I'm sure it contains a fair amount of relevant information. The
problem is, it will also contain irrelevant information and there is
no way to tell the difference. There definitely some better resources
out there. Here are some good free online ones:
http://docs.python.org/tut/
http://www.diveintopython.org/
-Matt
> http://docs.python.org/tut/http://www.diveintopython.org/
I'm dense so the online python docs make great sources for reference
points and they help clarify ambiguity but its too dry (without enough
sample code) to help me fully understand the concepts.
I think Dive Into Python would probably be a better choice. I'll
pickup the book this weekend!
Thanks for the help!!
The Sam's 24 hour books are wonderful tutorials(who wants to waste
more than 24 hours learning a language), and the fact that it's based
on python 1.5 shouldn't make any difference.
If you want to make a decision based on a quorum, I would suggest to not
bother with that book. Yes the SAMS TY books are usually great
(especially anything Laura Lemay), but you if you use a 1.5 book, you
will be learning some stuff you will *need* to unlearn at the expense of
learning things you should know.
I think the online tutorial is the way to go, or the newest Learning
Python from Lutz. After that, check out TPIP (Mertz) or the Programming
Python book from Lutz (for a global-esque view of the python world).
Maybe even think about the Cookbook (ed. Martelli).
Dive-Into-Python starts with one of those "Don't worry about what all
this means" examples, which I tend to hate and so I never got passed the
first example--it may get better as you go judging from all of its
proponents.
James
By all means look for something newer, but don't let that search stop
you from getting started with the book you have.
Andrew Kuchling has written a great series of "What's new in Python X.Y"
articles that can bring you up to date relatively quickly once you are
fluent in version 1.5. Start with:
http://www.python.org/download/releases/2.0/new-python
And welcome to the Python community.
regards
Steve
--
Steve Holden +1 571 484 6266 +1 800 494 3119
Holden Web LLC/Ltd http://www.holdenweb.com
Skype: holdenweb http://del.icio.us/steve.holden
--------------- Asciimercial ------------------
Get on the web: Blog, lens and tag the Internet
Many services currently offer free registration
----------- Thank You for Reading -------------