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

vii

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