4 ms·

Dive into Python 3

91 points by prakash 18y ago

cgranade 18y ago
Sure, there's no text yet, but I have high hopes. Given that one of the aims of Python 3 was to remove more confusing and unnecessary features in lieu of better-designed alternatives, teaching Python 3 from the start seems like a really good idea.
wizard_2 18y ago
I'd love to know if there are any good completed online books about python. I'm oddly new at programming (being a mere IT consultant for about 6 years now and finally deciding to concentrate on something) and I'm loving it a lot. I've learned a fair amount of php, taught myself objects, mvc, a couple different sqls (tsql, mysql), and a few different php frameworks. I keep trying out other languages (I liked python's intro) but when it comes time to making something I fall back into php because I know it very well. I feel almost stuck. Like a need a python project. =p
- iron_ball 18y ago
  So, not http://www.diveintopython.org http://www.diveintopython.org ?
  - timf 18y ago
    I always recommend Dive Into Python to people who already know some programming (if they're interested in Python).
- dlat 18y ago
  there are a few... https://bookmarks.sickos.org/tags/book+python https://bookmarks.sickos.org/tags/book+python
- naish 18y ago
  You could try Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist by Allen B. Downey. http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkpython.html http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkpython.html It is due to be published by Cambridge University Press under the title Python for Software Design. The link above is for the same content, available for free.
yelkeew 18y ago
Skip to the bottom: This site is optimized for Lynx just because fuck you. I'm told it also looks nice in graphical browsers.
- RK 18y ago
  Optimize for Lynx and it will probably look OK everywhere, even the worst mobile browsers.
- SapphireSun 18y ago
  I always enjoy it when you see the reasonable friendly people you get to know through their writing turn out to have a healthy dose of attitude.
  - ionfish 18y ago
    "[T]urn out to have"? Hasn't Mark Pilgrim always been this way?
    - SapphireSun 18y ago
      Maybe, but I was never exposed to it :-)
amix 18y ago
Dive into Python was one of the first Python books I read. It's filled with small (and Pythonic) tricks, has excellent examples and great explanations. I especially like the simple way it's written. It made Python click for me. I am looking forward for the successor.
anuraggoel 18y ago
From the TOC, it looks like DIP3 is going to be even more fun to write and read than the original.
brusqe 18y ago
There is a thread on Reddit where Mark Pilgram states that the final manuscript is due in June. He also states that if you have any suggestions/feedback, you should speak up. Check it here : http://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/7sj39/dive_into_python_3/c07a7ld http://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/7sj39/dive_into_pyth...
kcy 18y ago
So let's say you have a CS background and want to pick up python today - is it worth it to read up on the 2.0 stuff or just go right for 3.0 seeing as 3.0 is "backwards incompatible"? Is there a mass exodus to 3.0 happening or are there going to be a lot of people (e.g. researchers in other disciplines whose life is only peripherally programming) who are going to stick with the 2.0 that they already know and love? And is this (http://docs.python.org/3.0/ http://docs.python.org/3.0/) the best place to look for 3.0 learning material or is it better to do the Dive Into Python (for v2.0) thing then figure out the 3.0 differences?
- codedivine 18y ago
  3.0 is not backwards compatible. Whether to use 3.0 or 2.x depends upon the libraries you want to use. Some library writers are holding off the migration to 3.x until 3.0 is included as default in the popular linux distros.
- joshsharp 18y ago
  I would suggest learning Python 2.x first. The v2 branch is not going away overnight, and you're going to pick up Python 3.0 fairly quick after you know 2.0, so you may as well learn the version you can use straight away (with frameworks, libraries etc.) and learn your way up to 3.0 proficiency from there.
  - EliAndrewC 18y ago
    Agreed, with the addendum that you should learn on Python version 2.6, which lets you import many of the features from 3.0 on a per-file basis to make the transition to 3.0 easier.
akkartik 18y ago
I just tried papayawhip on the navbar of my blog :)
babul 18y ago
I'll dive into Python 3 once Django moves to it (soon I hope).
- DocSavage 18y ago
  I'll dive into Python 3 once App Engine allows it. GvR sugggested that won't happen anytime soon.

91 points by prakash 18y ago

Sure, there's no text yet, but I have high hopes. Given that one of the aims of Python 3 was to remove more confusing and unnecessary features in lieu of better-designed alternatives, teaching Python 3 from the start seems like a really good idea.

wizard_2 18y ago

I'd love to know if there are any good completed online books about python. I'm oddly new at programming (being a mere IT consultant for about 6 years now and finally deciding to concentrate on something) and I'm loving it a lot. I've learned a fair amount of php, taught myself objects, mvc, a couple different sqls (tsql, mysql), and a few different php frameworks. I keep trying out other languages (I liked python's intro) but when it comes time to making something I fall back into php because I know it very well. I feel almost stuck. Like a need a python project. =p

iron_ball 18y ago
So, not http://www.diveintopython.org http://www.diveintopython.org ?
- timf 18y ago
  I always recommend Dive Into Python to people who already know some programming (if they're interested in Python).
dlat 18y ago
there are a few... https://bookmarks.sickos.org/tags/book+python https://bookmarks.sickos.org/tags/book+python
naish 18y ago
You could try Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist by Allen B. Downey. http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkpython.html http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkpython.html It is due to be published by Cambridge University Press under the title Python for Software Design. The link above is for the same content, available for free.

yelkeew 18y ago

Skip to the bottom: This site is optimized for Lynx just because fuck you. I'm told it also looks nice in graphical browsers.

RK 18y ago
Optimize for Lynx and it will probably look OK everywhere, even the worst mobile browsers.
SapphireSun 18y ago
I always enjoy it when you see the reasonable friendly people you get to know through their writing turn out to have a healthy dose of attitude.
- ionfish 18y ago
  "[T]urn out to have"? Hasn't Mark Pilgrim always been this way?
  - SapphireSun 18y ago
    Maybe, but I was never exposed to it :-)

amix 18y ago

Dive into Python was one of the first Python books I read. It's filled with small (and Pythonic) tricks, has excellent examples and great explanations. I especially like the simple way it's written. It made Python click for me. I am looking forward for the successor.

anuraggoel 18y ago

From the TOC, it looks like DIP3 is going to be even more fun to write and read than the original.

brusqe 18y ago

There is a thread on Reddit where Mark Pilgram states that the final manuscript is due in June. He also states that if you have any suggestions/feedback, you should speak up. Check it here : http://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/7sj39/dive_into_python_3/c07a7ld http://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/7sj39/dive_into_pyth...

kcy 18y ago

So let's say you have a CS background and want to pick up python today - is it worth it to read up on the 2.0 stuff or just go right for 3.0 seeing as 3.0 is "backwards incompatible"? Is there a mass exodus to 3.0 happening or are there going to be a lot of people (e.g. researchers in other disciplines whose life is only peripherally programming) who are going to stick with the 2.0 that they already know and love? And is this (http://docs.python.org/3.0/ http://docs.python.org/3.0/) the best place to look for 3.0 learning material or is it better to do the Dive Into Python (for v2.0) thing then figure out the 3.0 differences?

codedivine 18y ago
3.0 is not backwards compatible. Whether to use 3.0 or 2.x depends upon the libraries you want to use. Some library writers are holding off the migration to 3.x until 3.0 is included as default in the popular linux distros.
joshsharp 18y ago
I would suggest learning Python 2.x first. The v2 branch is not going away overnight, and you're going to pick up Python 3.0 fairly quick after you know 2.0, so you may as well learn the version you can use straight away (with frameworks, libraries etc.) and learn your way up to 3.0 proficiency from there.
- EliAndrewC 18y ago
  Agreed, with the addendum that you should learn on Python version 2.6, which lets you import many of the features from 3.0 on a per-file basis to make the transition to 3.0 easier.

akkartik 18y ago

I just tried papayawhip on the navbar of my blog :)

babul 18y ago

I'll dive into Python 3 once Django moves to it (soon I hope).

DocSavage 18y ago
I'll dive into Python 3 once App Engine allows it. GvR sugggested that won't happen anytime soon.