Monday, 11 September 2017

Books I Have Found Useful

I'd like to say I am self-taught in Python programming - not entirely true. It's true I haven't had any face-to-face tuition, but I have found books on the subject to be invaluable - they have been my primary source for learning Python.

  • Learning Python, Third Edition (2007) by Mark Lutz, published by O'Reilly. My basic text and one of the most popular books for beginners. It has helped me immensely in the beginning with its gradual learning curve. 
  • Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science (2004) by John Zelle, published by Franklin, Beedle & Associates. I first encountered this as a pirate PDF copy in a dark alleyway of the web, but then did the decent thing and bought a hard copy from Amazon. Whereas Learning Python focuses on the language, this (as its title suggests) is more interested in Computer Science, using Python as a way of demonstrating the principles. Nonetheless, it's good for learning Python. 
These two have got me through the majority of my learning Python so far. There are other books that have helped to lesser degrees, including:
  • Programming Python (4th Edition) (2011) by Mark Lutz, published by O'Reilly. To be honest I have not worked through this one - I've dipped into it as a reference rather than as a coherent course. It is the follow-on from Learning Python and assumes a certain existing knowledge. 
  • Beginning Python: Using Python 2.6 and Python 3.1 (2010) by James Payne, published by Wrox. Although it has the intentions of the first two books on my list, it didn't quite hold my attention, and I felt that Payne wasn't really on my wavelength. It is still useful all the same.  
  • Coders at Work: Reflections on the Craft of Programming (2009) by Peter Seibel, published by Apress. This one is unusual in that it is not about how to program, so much as what programmers are like. It is not really instruction but inspiration as the author interviews 15 top-notch programmers to find out how they got into the subject and how they go about their work. 
Websites are important sources of guidance and it is reassuring that whatever question about Python I have, Google has heard it before from somebody else. Whether or not it provides a link to the answer I need is slightly different.
Stack Overflow is a question and answer site, and it covers a wide range of subjects, but its core is computing and programming. Many times the first suggestion on a Python-related Google query is a page on Stack Overflow and more often than not, some contributor on the site has provided the answer I am looking for. Interestingly I have not yet needed to post a question on the website myself.
FOLDOC - the Free OnLine Dictionary Of Computing, is more reference than interactive, but it is still quite useful.

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