Learning Python - UPV/EHU
[Pages:1213]Learning Python
FOURTH EDITION
Learning Python
Mark Lutz
Beijing ? Cambridge ? Farnham ? K?ln ? Sebastopol ? Taipei ? Tokyo
Learning Python, Fourth Edition
by Mark Lutz
Copyright ? 2009 Mark Lutz. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
Published by O'Reilly Media, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472.
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Editor: Julie Steele Production Editor: Sumita Mukherji Copyeditor: Rachel Head Production Services: Newgen North America
Indexer: John Bickelhaupt Cover Designer: Karen Montgomery Interior Designer: David Futato Illustrator: Robert Romano
Printing History:
March 1999: December 2003: October 2007: September 2009:
First Edition. Second Edition. Third Edition. Fourth Edition.
Nutshell Handbook, the Nutshell Handbook logo, and the O'Reilly logo are registered trademarks of O'Reilly Media, Inc. Learning Python, the image of a wood rat, and related trade dress are trademarks of O'Reilly Media, Inc.
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While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
ISBN: 978-0-596-15806-4 [M] 1252944666
To Vera. You are my life.
Table of Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxxi
Part I. Getting Started
1. A Python Q&A Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Why Do People Use Python?
3
Software Quality
4
Developer Productivity
5
Is Python a "Scripting Language"?
5
OK, but What's the Downside?
7
Who Uses Python Today?
7
What Can I Do with Python?
9
Systems Programming
9
GUIs
9
Internet Scripting
10
Component Integration
10
Database Programming
11
Rapid Prototyping
11
Numeric and Scientific Programming
11
Gaming, Images, Serial Ports, XML, Robots, and More
12
How Is Python Supported?
12
What Are Python's Technical Strengths?
13
It's Object-Oriented
13
It's Free
13
It's Portable
14
It's Powerful
15
It's Mixable
16
It's Easy to Use
16
It's Easy to Learn
17
It's Named After Monty Python
17
How Does Python Stack Up to Language X?
17
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