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thekev

macrumors 604
Original poster
Aug 5, 2010
7,005
3,343
Can anyone suggest any reasonably comprehensive books on python? I'm not sure where to start. I already did a search before starting a thread on this.
 
When you do run into a problem and can't solve it, "google" for the solution. If there is a link to the stackoverflow.com site, definitely look at that link. I have found that site to be an excellent source with problem solving (with any language).
 
Thanks guys. I'm going to try those sites. Learn python the hard way looks cool. I hate anything simplified. It just causes problems later on. Anyone have experience with python in maya?
 
I realize you are just beginning but try to remember this for the future.

There are very powerful libraries for Python. Either built-in to base Python or third-party libraries. For example, the PIL (Python Imaging Library) is an extremely powerful image processing library that probably covers everything you need in regards to 2-D images and processing.

The bottom line is, check to see if a library can fulfill your requirements before rolling your own implementation.
 
I realize you are just beginning but try to remember this for the future.

There are very powerful libraries for Python. Either built-in to base Python or third-party libraries. For example, the PIL (Python Imaging Library) is an extremely powerful image processing library that probably covers everything you need in regards to 2-D images and processing.

The bottom line is, check to see if a library can fulfill your requirements before rolling your own implementation.
Seconded! There are literally TONS of Python extension libraries that fill most of the common needs. The only problem: Many of them aren't yet 64-bit ready, Python 3-compatible, or both.
 
I realize you are just beginning but try to remember this for the future.

There are very powerful libraries for Python. Either built-in to base Python or third-party libraries. For example, the PIL (Python Imaging Library) is an extremely powerful image processing library that probably covers everything you need in regards to 2-D images and processing.

The bottom line is, check to see if a library can fulfill your requirements before rolling your own implementation.

Thank you. My concerns are somewhat application specific, but I wanted to understand it well enough to prevent getting stuck on stupid things. I really don't do much in the way of scripting currently, and my programming knowledge is dismal.


I'm going to look at that right now.
 
Here are some free and legal online Python book that you might find useful:

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/

That's a cool book :)

I just read through exercise 0. The following quotes are great:

A programmer may try to get you to install Python 3 and learn that. You should tell them, "When all of the python code on your computer is Python 3, then I'll try to learn it." That should keep them busy for about 10 years.

A programmer will eventually tell you to use Mac OSX or Linux. If the programmer likes fonts and typography, they'll tell you to get a Mac OSX computer. If they like control and have a huge beard, they'll tell you to install Linux. Again, use whatever computer you have right now that works. All you need is gedit, a Terminal, and python.
 
A programmer may try to get you to install Python 3 and learn that. You should tell them, "When all of the python code on your computer is Python 3, then I'll try to learn it." That should keep them busy for about 10 years.

Where I work we have been "poised" to jump to Python version 3 for some time now. The reason we are still with 2.x is exactly the quote above. That is, not all the libraries we use are there yet.

I realize the original poster is just learning Python but I hope these discussions we are having now help in the future.
 
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