'in Action' or 'cook' book?

[Gour]

Hello!

Based on what I could see, 'wxPython in Action' book is bigger and is
covering about GUI development principles, while 'wxPython 2.8
Application Development Cookbook' talks less about principles (or is
cookbook with 'recipes'), is 308p in comparison with the former which is
552p. costs almost the same ($34 vs $38) but it covers *newer* version
of wxPython.

Considering I can affor to buy (in terms of money & time) only one, can
anyone, familiar with both books, recommend which one is more suitable
for someone starting with wxPython *today* ?

Based on TOCs, I'm more inclined with the 1st one, but wonder how much
wrestling I can expect trying to adapt coder examples to work with
wxpython-2.8.x and 2.9.x./3.0? (Probably it's trivial for someone
familiar with wxpython, but maybe not for me.)


Sincerely,
Gour


--
While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person
develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust
develops, and from lust anger arises.

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[Mike Driscoll]

On Tue, Jul 10, 2012 at 4:16 PM, Peter Milliken <peter.m...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have "wxPython in Action" and have been looking at buying the Cookbook.

I still reference Robin's book (wxPython in Action) from time to time. Yes the code examples are getting a little crusty, but I think the main problem with them is that it has some stuff in it that's been deprecated. Otherwise it *just works*. For example, wx.PySimpleApp() is no longer preferred. You should use wx.App(False) instead.

 

Amazon has it in Kindle format for $15 USD - the code shown in the sample chapters STILL displays no formatting though (last time I checked) - this HAS been fixed by the publisher (if you go to their web-site you will see the sample chapters now have properly formatted code). So I assume that the Kindle ebook will come directly from the publisher via a link and will have correctly formatted code examples - but make sure first :-)

I have the PDF version of the cookbook and the hard copy. I think the PDF's code examples were fine.

 

Personally, if I was looking to learn wxPython (which I am in the process of doing) then I would buy the "in Action" book. Whether you need or can really make use of the Cookbook is somewhat debatable - the code examples that come with wxPython are really fantastic in terms of variety etc - the main reason I have been holding off on buying the Cookbook i.e. what does the Cookbook have that I cannot find in the wxPython examples that would make it worth even $15 USD?

I originally learnt Python GUI programming using Grayson's book - which led me into Tkinter and the Pmw library. but with the newer ttk additions (and lack of documentation - making it VERY hard to use!) and the fact that Pmw isn't "growing" (and not supported in Python 3.X), I decided to switch to wxPython - the book wasn't really needed to teach me about GUI programming in Python (since I already knew things like grid layout etc) but has been a big help getting started with wxPython.

I am only just starting my GUI using wxPython but between "in Action" and the wxPython examples (which generally reveal more than one way to interface to the user!), I think I will hold off buying the Cookbook - probably indefinitely. I figure any "problems" I have that I cannot solve using the first two, I can probably get answers to from this list :-)

Peter

Any problems with the transition from 2.8 to 2.9 or Phoenix should be in the transition guide that's in the works. Personally, I haven't had to translate anything I've written in 2.8 to make it work in 2.9. I haven't given Phoenix a try yet as it's still very beta.

 

-------------------
Mike Driscoll

Blog:   http://blog.pythonlibrary.org

[Gour]

On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 19:06:57 -0500
Mike Driscoll <mi...@pythonlibrary.org> wrote:

> I still reference Robin's book (wxPython in Action) from time to
> time. Yes the code examples are getting a little crusty, but I think
> the main problem with them is that it has some stuff in it that's
> been deprecated. Otherwise it *just works*. For example,
> wx.PySimpleApp() is no longer preferred. You should use wx.App(False)
> instead.

That's nice to hear that code *just works*.

> Any problems with the transition from 2.8 to 2.9 or Phoenix should be
> in the transition guide that's in the works. Personally, I haven't
> had to translate anything I've written in 2.8 to make it work in 2.9.
> I haven't given Phoenix a try yet as it's still very beta.

Good...this makes it clear - we'll start with 'in Action' book and try
to learn wxPython with it and then use official docs to port stuff to
2.9/3.x (hopefully we'll see 3.0 during this lifetime) as the need
arises.


Sincerely,
Gour


--
It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though
faultily, than another's duties perfectly. Destruction in the course
of performing one's own duty is better than engaging in another's
duties, for to follow another's path is dangerous.

[Gour]

On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:16:19 -0700 (PDT)

Peter Milliken <peter.m...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have "wxPython in Action" and have been looking at buying the
> Cookbook.

Interesting...

> Amazon has it in Kindle format for $15 USD - the code shown in the
> sample chapters STILL displays no formatting though (last time I
> checked) - this HAS been fixed by the publisher (if you go to their
> web-site you will see the sample chapters now have properly formatted
> code). So I assume that the Kindle ebook will come directly from the
> publisher via a link and will have correctly formatted code examples
> - but make sure first :-)

I do not own Kindle reader and I'm not interested in PDF version - I'm
one of those liking to hold book in my hands. :-)

> Personally, if I was looking to learn wxPython (which I am in the
> process of doing) then I would buy the "in Action" book.

OK.

> I originally learnt Python GUI programming using Grayson's book -
> which led me into Tkinter and the Pmw library. but with the newer ttk
> additions (and lack of documentation - making it VERY hard to use!)
> and the fact that Pmw isn't "growing" (and not supported in Python
> 3.X), I decided to switch to wxPython - the book wasn't really needed
> to teach me about GUI programming in Python (since I already knew
> things like grid layout etc) but has been a big help getting started
> with wxPython.

Thanks. I need to learn about some GUI programming principles as well...

> I am only just starting my GUI using wxPython but between "in Action"
> and the wxPython examples (which generally reveal more than one way
> to interface to the user!), I think I will hold off buying the
> Cookbook - probably indefinitely. I figure any "problems" I have that
> I cannot solve using the first two, I can probably get answers to
> from this list :-)

Thank you. Considering that, practically for the same price, 'in Action'
is also more detailed book, I'll start with that one...


Sincerely,
Gour


--
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.
Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him.
The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because
they have seen the truth.

[Patrick Maher]

I started trying to learn wxPython with the "In Action" book but found it impossible to get up to speed that way. Then I bought the "Cookbook" but didn't find that a good way to get started either. Then I discovered the tutorial at http://www.zetcode.com/wxpython/ and this was just what I needed to get started with wxPython. After that, I've found both books useful for reference. I use "In Action" most because it covers a wider range of topics; there are lots of things not discussed in the "Cookbook". But, if the "Cookbook" covers what you are doing, it has very nice coding examples and I've discovered commands there that I haven't seen documented. But I use the online documentation more than either book.

Patrick Maher

[Gour]

On Thu, 12 Jul 2012 12:40:45 -0700 (PDT)
Patrick Maher <pat...@maher1.net> wrote:

> I started trying to learn wxPython with the "In Action" book but
> found it impossible to get up to speed that way. Then I bought the
> "Cookbook" but didn't find that a good way to get started either.

Hmm...this is very interesting.

Base on the samples which I saw from 'In Action book', I believe it
will be OK for me.

> Then I discovered the tutorial at http://www.zetcode.com/wxpython/
> and this was just what I needed to get started with wxPython. After
> that, I've found both books useful for reference. I use "In Action"
> most because it covers a wider range of topics; there are lots of
> things not discussed in the "Cookbook".

Thank you the tutorial pointer...it's very good, but we are going to
buy 'in Action' book as well.


Sincerely,
Gour


--
In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good
or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it,
is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.