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Ask HN: Getting started with Python for web development
I am an Interface Designer by profession. Lately I have been trying to teach myself to teach programing language.
The only prior experience I have is a bit of C, just enough Php to get through to make WP themes from scratch and just finished the MIT OCW 6.0 along with the book How to Think Like a Computer Scientist.
Also I know basic MySQL, thanks to my job as an Analyst for over a year.
Now I would like to get started with exposing myself to the part of building apps even if they are the most basic ones. Where should I begin with Web development using Python? (I know Php should have been the logical choice but I am just in love with Python for some reason; seems just right to me than C or Php)
A point to note is that I am highly inclined for Pylons framework over Django because a project on which I want to work on later with other serious/experienced programmers requires it due to its sheer scale. I do not expect to be doing the same level of coding as them but at least I can help them when I am done with the design and UX part of the app.
Should I go for a basic thing like web.py and learn the building blocks or choose Pylons? Please keep in mind my understanding of server side programming, MVC etc is very limited.
- mathnode 16y agoI found this quite handy: http://docs.python.org/howto/webservers.html http://docs.python.org/howto/webservers.html I am a cgibin kind of person.
- personalcompute 16y agoDjango and Pylons will both introduce you to a lot of advanced concepts that I would imagine to be very confusing to someone not familiar with programming. I'd recommend you first learn Python more fully before you start working with a framework. In fact, at this point I would recommend practicing with traditional desktop scripts as opposed to anything on the web, but using CGI may actually be a better choice in getting you down the path you want to go faster.
- swanson 16y agoI would take a look at Flask. It is great for small applications. Read the quickstart guide (http://flask.pocoo.org/docs/quickstart/#a-minimal-application http://flask.pocoo.org/docs/quickstart/#a-minimal-applicatio...). Follow the tutorial for making a blog (http://flask.pocoo.org/docs/tutorial/introduction/ http://flask.pocoo.org/docs/tutorial/introduction/). After that you will know how to do URL routing, rendering views/templates, and making database calls -- the backbones of making a web application.
- lovskogen 16y agoI'm also an interface designer, wanting to learn Python to make stuff. We're in the same boat! I'm reading Head First Python, a real newbie book. My knowledge just contains HTML and CSS, so I'm really starting from scratch. Would love to see your progress and learn from it. @lovskogen
- tuhin 16y agoIf it makes you feel any better, my knowledge of C and Php is of no real use. Also the entire idea of Frameworks with URL templating, MVC is too irritating when I want to know how and why something is happening. There has to be a book that teaches it from the perspective of a beginner. Wish someone could answer that.
- lovskogen 16y agoI read my Python Head First when I got the time. I fiddled around with the IDLE editor, doing some basic lists in sqlite3 and some logic/math on some integers and string. But I really want to do the WEB stuff. So I've sat myself a goal of posting a web form into a database and then retrieving that info somewhere else, seems like a feasable task.
- elg0nz 16y agoActually, you should just do it. The polls tutorial is reply well written, and I am a firm believer that the best way to learn something is by hacking some project out of it. Good luck !