Completely revised and improved, the second edition of Programming Python is an excellent compendium of material geared toward the more knowledgeable Python developer. It includes dozens of reusable scripts for common scripting tasks, and is one of the best available sources of information for this popular object-oriented scripting language.

In over 1,200 pages of material, this book offers an extremely comprehensive guide to Python development. Though his book is densely packed with information, Mark Lutz is a lively and witty writer whose focus is on getting things done using the natural strengths of the Python language. To that end, after an introduction and history of the language, the book shows how to use Python for performing automated tasks with files and directories (for example, for doing backups both locally and on Web servers). Not only will this book teach you more about Python, but it will also give you a library of code that you can use as is or adapt for your own projects.

The text covers every conceivable facet of Python and the language's support for networking, files and directories, task management, and even persistence (through its support for shelves). Complete Python programs show how to create e-mail clients, do reporting, and create Web applications (for an online errata database). Chapters on doing graphics programming in Python, as well as coverage of both built-in and custom data structures, are especially good. Because Python is often used for automating installations (in some Linux distributions, for instance), readers will appreciate the sample code and tips for using Python to create bulletproof installs.

Later sections show how get Python to work with C, Java (through JPython), and other languages. The book concludes with useful reference sections summarizing key aspects of Python, like its revision history, relationship to C++, and other material. There aren't many titles on Python, and fans of this up-and-coming language are lucky to have such a solid tutorial and guide available in Programming Python. Perfect for those with just a little previous exposure to the language, it's all you need to master Python in-depth and tap its considerable power for virtually any software project. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Introduction to Python Basic system scripts with Python (including file and directory tools) Working with processes and threads Pipes and signals Sample scripts for system and Web utilities (including backing up files, program launching, replicating and managing directories) Graphical user interface design in Python (including the Tkinter module) Widgets and basic components Layout options Event handling GUI examples (including a working text editor, image viewer, and clock) Network scripting (sockets, FTP, and e-mail clients) Server-side scripting Sample server scripts for an online errata database Python on the Internet (including Zope, JPython, and XML tools) Databases and persistence in Python (including pickled objects and shelf files) Custom and built-in data structures in Python Text and string handling C integration with Python (including the SWIG module) Embedding Python calls within C Hints for using Python in real projects Reference to recent changes to Python Python vs. C++ quick-start guide


From Book News, Inc.
Written for programmers, this guide describes the advanced uses of the Python language, with a focusing on real-world applications. Coverage includes Internet scripting, system programming, GUI programming, and C integration. Also described are the new aspects of Python 2.0, including its tools, applications, Jython, Active Scripting and COM extensions, Zope, code generators, thread support, and protocol modules. A platform-neutral CD-ROM contains examples, the Python 2.0 source code distribution, the Zope web application framework, code generators, and PMW megawidgets library. Lutz is a software developer.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Description
Programming Python demonstrates advanced applications of the increasingly popular object-oriented scripting language that's freely available on the Web. Hundreds of thousands of developers around the world use Python for Internet scripting, systems programming, user interfaces, product customization, and more. The Python interpreter is available on most popular Unix platforms, Linux, Windows and the Mac. This book is the most comprehensive resource for advanced Python programmers available today. It focuses on real-world Python applications and has been reviewed and endorsed by Python creator Guido van Rossum, who also provides the foreword. Updated for Python 2.0, this edition is really 4 books in one, with in-depth coverage of Internet scripting, systems programming, Tkinter GUIs, and C integration domains. An appendix contains recent Python changes, and there's a platform-neutral CD-ROM with book examples and Python-related packages, including the full Python 2.0 source code distribution.


Book Info
A comprehensive resource for Python programmers, offering information on how to program Python on many platforms, including Unix, Linux, Windows, and Mac OS. Focuses on real-world applications for Python programming, with a wealth of code examples so that readers can begin to immediately develop Python programs. Covers Python 2. Previous edition not cited. Softcover.


The publisher, O'Reilly and Associates
Programming Python is a classic O'Reilly Nutshell Handbook describing the use of the Python programming/scripting language. Python is a popular scripting language freely available over the Net. Like Perl, Python is powerful, but easier to use than a traditional compiler language like C or C++. Although it is used mostly in UNIX environments (including Linux), it is available on Windows and Mac platforms as well. Unlike Perl, Python uses an object-oriented paradigm, making it a particularly useful scripting language for C++ programmers and the Windows/OLE and Mac environments. This book will serve the Python community as our Programming Perl book does for the Perl community. This book complements the online reference material provided with the Python releases. It is endorsed by the creator of Python, Guido van Rossum, who wrote the foreword. The CD-ROM included with the book contains Python 1.3 binaries for most popular UNIX platforms, as well as Linux, Windows, NT, and the Mac. This book is the most comprehensive Python user material available from any publisher. It contains a number of running examples, presented simply at first but becoming more complex as new issues appear. Examples describing Graphical User Interface (GUI) programming use the Tk language. (Tk is usually considered a part of the Tcl scripting language, but is in fact usable with other scripting languages like Perl and Python.) An appendix contains a separate short language tutorial.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Programming Python, 2nd Edition, focuses on advanced uses of the Python programming/scripting language, which has evolved from an emerging language of interest primarily to pioneers, to a widely accepted tool that traditional programmers use for real day-to-day development tasks. With Python, you can do almost anything you can do with C++; but Python is an interpreted language designed for rapid application development and deployment. Among other things, Python supports object-oriented programming; a remarkably simple, readable, and maintainable syntax; integration with C components; and a vast collection of pre-coded interfaces and utilities.

As Python has grown to embrace developers on a number of different platforms (Unix, Linux, Windows, Mac), companies have taken notice and are adopting Python for their products. It has shown up animating the latest Star Wars movie, serving up maps and directories on the Internet, guiding users through Linux installations, testing chips and boards, managing Internet discussion forums, scripting online games, and even scripting wireless products.

Programming Python, 2nd Edition, is the most comprehensive resource for advanced Python programmers available today. Reviewed and endorsed by Python creator Guido van Rossum, who also provides the foreword, this book zeroes in on real-world Python applications. It's been updated for Python 2.0 and covers Internet scripting, systems programming, Tkinter GUIs, C integration domains, and new Python tools and applications. Among them: IDLE, JYthon, Active Scripting and COM extensions, Zope, PSP server pages, restricted execution mode, the HTMLgen and SWIGcode generators, thread support, CGI and Internet protocol modules. Such applications are the heart and soul of this second edition.

Veteran O'Reilly author Mark Lutz has included a platform-neutral CD-ROM with book examples and various Python-related packages, including the full Python 2.0 source code distribution.

SYNOPSIS

Programming Python, 2nd Edition, focuses on advanced uses of the Python programming/scripting language, which has evolved from an emerging language of interest primarily to pioneers, to a widely accepted tool that traditional programmers use for real day-to-day development tasks. With Python, you can do almost anything you can do with C++; but Python is an interpreted language designed for rapid application development and deployment. Among other things, Python supports object-oriented programming; a remarkably simple, readable, and maintainable syntax; integration with C components; and a vast collection of pre-coded interfaces and utilities.

As Python has grown to embrace developers on a number of different platforms (Unix, Linux, Windows, Mac), companies have taken notice and are adopting Python for their products. It has shown up animating the latest Star Wars movie, serving up maps and directories on the Internet, guiding users through Linux installations, testing chips and boards, managing Internet discussion forums, scripting online games, and even scripting wireless products.

Programming Python, 2nd Edition, is the most comprehensive resource for advanced Python programmers available today. Reviewed and endorsed by Python creator Guido van Rossum, who also provides the foreword, this book zeroes in on real-world Python applications. It's been updated for Python 2.0 and covers Internet scripting, systems programming, Tkinter GUIs, C integration domains, and new Python tools and applications. Among them: IDLE, JYthon, Active Scripting and COM extensions, Zope, PSP server pages, restricted execution mode, the HTMLgen and SWIG code generators, threadsupport, CGI and Internet protocol modules. Such applications are the heart and soul of this second edition.

Veteran O'Reilly author Mark Lutz has included a platform-neutral CD-ROM with book examples and various Python-related packages, including the full Python 2.0 source code distribution.

FROM THE CRITICS

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