Fight, fight, fight. Seriously, Learning Python is straight forward, up-to-date, and an easy read. Have not completed it yet, but it provides a good and lucid look into the language.
"Definitively" because it covers all the important aspects of "beginning with python". I have both, got the "Dive Into Python" later and didn't bring anything new to me.
dip and make sure to really follow on the references at the end of each chapter.
i haven't read learning python, but mark pilgrim starts dip with this:
You know how other books go on and on about programming fundamentals and finally work up to building a complete, working program? Let's skip all that.
To not repeat everybody else... one of my all-time favorites has been Text Processing in Python ( http://gnosis.cx/TPiP/ ). If you're already familiar with dynamically typed languages, you might actually want to give this a shot right away.
Skimming through Dive Into Python - or some of the other tutorials - takes only a few hours, so you should definitely start with those, though.
14 comments so far
Same here. Currently using Learning Python by Mark Lutz, so far, so good.
1 year, 5 months ago by BigEclipse
try "dive into python"
1 year, 5 months ago by kainskind
Dive into python! docs.python.org helps also
1 year, 5 months ago by drjnut
Definitively the "Learning Python" by Mark Lutz
1 year, 5 months ago by nmariz
http://www.diveintopython.org/ definitely the way to start.
1 year, 5 months ago by nunonunes
Cool, I had looked at Learning Python and was considering it. Hadn't seen Dive into Python yet. Thanks for the suggestions.
1 year, 5 months ago by jasonburton
Hey, two "definitelys" back-to-back, nice. Let the fight begin! :-)
1 year, 5 months ago by nunonunes
Fight, fight, fight. Seriously, Learning Python is straight forward, up-to-date, and an easy read. Have not completed it yet, but it provides a good and lucid look into the language.
1 year, 5 months ago by BigEclipse
"Definitively" because it covers all the important aspects of "beginning with python". I have both, got the "Dive Into Python" later and didn't bring anything new to me.
1 year, 5 months ago by nmariz
I'll read both at the same time.
1 year, 5 months ago by jasonburton
dip and make sure to really follow on the references at the end of each chapter. i haven't read learning python, but mark pilgrim starts dip with this:
You know how other books go on and on about programming fundamentals and finally work up to building a complete, working program? Let's skip all that.
and it just gets better from there :)
1 year, 5 months ago by pfig
dive into python!
1 year, 5 months ago by mies
Seconding mies
1 year, 5 months ago by Itkovian
To not repeat everybody else... one of my all-time favorites has been Text Processing in Python ( http://gnosis.cx/TPiP/ ). If you're already familiar with dynamically typed languages, you might actually want to give this a shot right away.
Skimming through Dive Into Python - or some of the other tutorials - takes only a few hours, so you should definitely start with those, though.
1 year, 5 months ago by tommi