Differences between revisions 2 and 60 (spanning 58 versions)
Revision 2 as of 2004-10-11 21:00:21
Size: 4419
Comment: Initial addition of Beginner's Guide
Revision 60 as of 2005-08-22 21:57:07
Size: 5284
Editor: users-matrix-217-146-246-1
Comment:
Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
Line 3: Line 3:
New to programming?  Python is free, and easy to learn if you know
where to start!  This guide will help you to get started quickly.
New to programming? Python is free, and easy to learn if you know where to start! This guide will help you to get started quickly.
Line 6: Line 5:
== New to Python? == '''New to Python?'''
Line 8: Line 7:
  *  Read our brief [BeginnersGuide/Overview brief overview of Python] to learn the key points.
  * First, you need to get the Python interpreter installed on your computer.
   
(This is the program that reads Python programs and carries out their
     instructions; you need it before you can do any Python programming.)
     See [BeginnersGuide/Download "Downloading Python"] for instructions
     for downloading the correct version of Python.
  * Read ["BeginnersGuide/Overview"] to learn the key points.
  * First, you need to get the
Python interpreter installed on your computer.
  (This is the program that reads Python programs and carries out their
  instructions; you need it before you can do any Python programming.)
  See ["BeginnersGuide/Download"] for instructions
  for downloading the correct version of Python.
Line 15: Line 14:
  *  You'll want to select a
    
[/editors text editor] that has
    
support for Python.
  * You'll want to select a [http://www.python.org/moin/PythonEditors text editor] that has support for Python.
Line 19: Line 16:
  * Next, you're going to want to read a tutorial and try some simple experiments
     with your new Python interpreter.
  * Need to know how to run programs? See [http://www.python.org/doc/faq/windows.html#how-do-i-run-a-python-program-under-windows How do I Run a Program Under Windows] (Unix/Linux users are assumed, perhaps incorrectly, to be familiar with the necessary techniques).
Line 22: Line 18:
     * If you've never programmed before, see [BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers "Python for Non-Programmers"].
      *  If you have previous programming experience, consult  [BeginnersGuide/Programmers "Python for Programmers"], which lists more advanced tutorials.
      * If English isn't your first language, you might be more comfortable with a tutorial that's been translated into your language.  Consult python.org's [/doc/NonEnglish.html list of Non-English resources].
  * Next, you're going to want to read a tutorial and try some simple experiments
  with your new Python interpreter.

      *
If you've never programmed before, see ["BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers"].
      * If you have previous programming experience, consult ["BeginnersGuide/Programmers"], which lists more advanced tutorials.
      * Free Python video lectures are also available ["Intro to programming with Python and Tkinter"], You would be able to view the video using mplayer once you have download the files. If you are using windows, it requires a DivX player, available from http://www.divx.com/divx/windows/. (One user reports success viewing the videos on OS X 10.4 using the VLC player -- http://www.videolan.org/)
      * If
English isn't your first language, you might be more comfortable with a tutorial that's been translated into your language. Consult python.org's [http://www.python.org/doc/NonEnglish.html list of Non-English resources].
Line 27: Line 27:
  *  Once you've read a tutorial, you can browse through
     [/doc/ Python's online documentation].
     It includes [/doc/current/tut/ a tutorial]
     that may be helpful, [/doc/current/lib/ a
    
Library Reference] that lists all of the modules that come
     standard with Python, and [/doc/current/ref/ the Language Reference] for a complete (if rather dry) explanation
      
of Python's syntax.

* Most Python books will include an introduction; see [IntroductoryBooks the book list]
       for suggested titles.
  * Consult the [
BeginnersGuide/Examples "Examples and Sample Code"] page for small
     
programs and little snippets of code that can help you learn.
  *  Need help from a human?  Read [BeginnersGuide/help.html "Getting Help"] for
      
mailing lists and newsgroups.
  *  Or, you can pay for [BeginnersGuide/Courses a Python course].
  *  Teachers can join the [/sigs/edu-sig/ EDU-SIG],
     a mailing list for discussion of
   
Python's use in teaching at any level ranging from K-12 up to
     university.
  * Once you've read a tutorial, you can browse through
  [http://www.python.org/doc/ Python's online documentation].
  It includes [http://www.python.org/doc/current/tut/ a tutorial]
  that may be helpful, [http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/ a Library Reference] that lists all of the modules that come
  standard with Python, and [http://www.python.org/doc/current/ref/ the Language Reference] for a complete (if rather dry) explanation of Python's syntax.
  * Or you can find python tutorials on [http://www.codeteacher.com Code Teacher].
  *
Most Python books will include an introduction; see IntroductoryBooks
  for suggested titles.
  * Consult
["BeginnersGuide/Examples"] for small
programs and little snippets of code that can help you learn.
  * Need help from a human? Read ["BeginnersGuide/Help"] for mailing lists and newsgroups.
  * Or, you can pay for a Python course; see ["BeginnersGuide/Courses"] for a list.
  * Teachers can join the [http://www.python.org/sigs/edu-sig/ EDU-SIG],
  a mailing list for discussion of
Python's use in teaching at any level ranging from K-12 up to
  university.
Line 49: Line 46:
*  The first place to look is the [/pypi/ Python Package Index].  * The first place to look is the [http://www.python.org/pypi/ Python Package Index].
Line 51: Line 48:
* If you can't find anything relevant in the Package Index,
  try [/search/ searching python.org] - you can
  find anything mentioned on the Python site, in the [/doc/faq/ FAQs], or in the
  newsgroup.  More info: [/search/#help where to
  search].
 * If you can't find anything relevant in the Package Index,
 try [http://www.python.org/search/ searching python.org] - you can
 find anything mentioned on the Python site, in the [http://www.python.org/doc/faq/ FAQs], or in the
 newsgroup. More info: [http://www.python.org/search/#help where to
 search].
Line 57: Line 54:
* Next, try [http://www.google.com Google] or other
  search engine of your choice.  Searching for "python" and some relevant keywords will usually find something helpful.
 * Next, try [http://www.google.com Google] or other
 search engine of your choice. Searching for "python" and some relevant keywords will usually find something helpful.
Line 60: Line 57:
* Finally, you can try posting a query to the comp.lang.python Usenet group.  * Finally, you can try posting a query to the comp.lang.python Usenet group.
Line 66: Line 63:
 *  Python is a product of the [/psf/ Python Software Foundation], a non-profit organization that holds the copyright. [/psf/donations.html Donations to the PSF] are
tax-deductible in the USA, and you can donate via credit card or
PayPal.
 * Python is a product of the [http://www.python.org/psf/ Python Software Foundation], a non-profit organization that holds the copyright. [http://www.python.org/psf/donations.html Donations to the PSF] are tax-deductible in the USA, and you can donate via credit card or PayPal.
Line 70: Line 65:
* To report a bug in the Python core, use the [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=105470 Python Bug Tracker] at SourceForge.  * To report a bug in the Python core, use the [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=105470 Python Bug Tracker] at SourceForge.
Line 72: Line 67:
* To contribute a bug fix or other patch to the Python
core, read the [/dev/ Python Developer's Guide]
for more information about Python's development process.
 * To contribute a bug fix or other patch to the Python
 core, read the [http://www.python.org/dev/ Python Developer's Guide]
 for more information about Python's development process.
Line 76: Line 71:
* To contribute to the official [/doc/ Python
documentation], join the [/sigs/doc-sig/ Documentation SIG], write to docs@python.org, or use the [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=305470 Patch Manager] to contribute a documentation patch.
 * To contribute to the official [http://www.python.org/doc/ Python documentation], join the [http://www.python.org/sigs/doc-sig/ Documentation SIG],
write to docs@python.org, or use the [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=305470 Patch Manager] to contribute a documentation patch.
Line 79: Line 74:
*  To announce your module or application to the Python community,
use [news:comp.lang.python.announce comp.lang.python.announce].  See
[/community/lists.html#comp-lang-python-announce the guide to Python mailing lists] for more information.
 * To announce your module or application to the Python community,
 use [news:comp.lang.python.announce comp.lang.python.announce]. See [http://www.python.org/community/lists.html#comp-lang-python-announce the guide to Python mailing lists] for more information.
Line 83: Line 77:
*  To propose changes to the python core, post your thoughts to [news:comp.lang.python comp.lang.python].  If you have an
implementation, follow the [/patches/ Python Patch Guidelines].
 * To propose changes to the python core, post your thoughts to [news:comp.lang.python comp.lang.python].
If you have an implementation, follow the [http://www.python.org/patches/ Python Patch Guidelines].
Line 86: Line 80:
== Did we miss your concern? == ----
CategoryDocumentation
Line 88: Line 83:
Please add a comment to this page.
test edit, sorry

Beginner's Guide to Python

New to programming? Python is free, and easy to learn if you know where to start! This guide will help you to get started quickly.

New to Python?

  • Read ["BeginnersGuide/Overview"] to learn the key points.
  • First, you need to get the Python interpreter installed on your computer. (This is the program that reads Python programs and carries out their instructions; you need it before you can do any Python programming.) See ["BeginnersGuide/Download"] for instructions for downloading the correct version of Python.
  • You'll want to select a [http://www.python.org/moin/PythonEditors text editor] that has support for Python.

  • Need to know how to run programs? See [http://www.python.org/doc/faq/windows.html#how-do-i-run-a-python-program-under-windows How do I Run a Program Under Windows] (Unix/Linux users are assumed, perhaps incorrectly, to be familiar with the necessary techniques).

  • Next, you're going to want to read a tutorial and try some simple experiments with your new Python interpreter.
    • If you've never programmed before, see ["BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers"].

    • If you have previous programming experience, consult ["BeginnersGuide/Programmers"], which lists more advanced tutorials.
    • Free Python video lectures are also available ["Intro to programming with Python and Tkinter"], You would be able to view the video using mplayer once you have download the files. If you are using windows, it requires a DivX player, available from http://www.divx.com/divx/windows/. (One user reports success viewing the videos on OS X 10.4 using the VLC player -- http://www.videolan.org/)

    • If English isn't your first language, you might be more comfortable with a tutorial that's been translated into your language. Consult python.org's [http://www.python.org/doc/NonEnglish.html list of Non-English resources].

  • Once you've read a tutorial, you can browse through

    [http://www.python.org/doc/ Python's online documentation]. It includes [http://www.python.org/doc/current/tut/ a tutorial] that may be helpful, [http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/ a Library Reference] that lists all of the modules that come standard with Python, and [http://www.python.org/doc/current/ref/ the Language Reference] for a complete (if rather dry) explanation of Python's syntax.

  • Or you can find python tutorials on [http://www.codeteacher.com Code Teacher].

  • Most Python books will include an introduction; see IntroductoryBooks for suggested titles.

  • Consult ["BeginnersGuide/Examples"] for small programs and little snippets of code that can help you learn.
  • Need help from a human? Read ["BeginnersGuide/Help"] for mailing lists and newsgroups.
  • Or, you can pay for a Python course; see ["BeginnersGuide/Courses"] for a list.
  • Teachers can join the [http://www.python.org/sigs/edu-sig/ EDU-SIG], a mailing list for discussion of Python's use in teaching at any level ranging from K-12 up to university.

Looking for a particular Python module or application?

Want to contribute?


CategoryDocumentation

test edit, sorry

BeginnersGuide (last edited 2023-08-29 20:15:52 by eriky)

Unable to edit the page? See the FrontPage for instructions.