Introducing Python

Sean Reifschneider

tummy.com, ltd.

Preparations

• What do you want to accomplish?
• http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Download
• Version 2.6.x or lower (NOT 3.x)
• Python
• iPython
  • http://ipython.scipy.org/moin/Documentation
• Wingware
  • Commercial with trial
  • http://wingware.com/wingide/trial

Why Python?

• Rich library set
• Very active community
• Simple yet powerful
• Easy to read, easy to write
• Automatic memory management
• Tracebacks
• Extremely dynamic
• Cross-platform
  • From cell phones to super-computers.
• Open source
• Free

Python 3.x

• Removing backwards compatibility "features" and warts.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_programming_language#Python_3000
• http://docs.python.org/dev/3.0/whatsnew/3.0.html
• Why not now?
• Then when?

Preparing for Python 3.0

• Write in Python 2.6+.
• Translate with 2to3
• Fix any errors/warnings in the 2.x code.

Using Python

• Interactive
  • python
    http://docs.python.org/tutorial/interpreter.html#invoking-the-interpreter
  • ipython
    http://ipython.scipy.org/doc/rel-0.9.1/html/interactive/tutorial.html
• Edit and run
  • vim + python
    http://wiki.python.org/moin/HowToEditPythonCode
• Wingware
  • http://wiki.python.org/moin/PythonEditors

Exploring with iPython

• Just try it...
• Tab Completion
• Captured output: Out[1], _1, _2, _, __, ___...
• Captured input: In[1:3], exec In[1:3], %hist
• Readline input
• os.path.exists?
• %psource os.path.exists
• %run sourcefile
• %pdb
• Shell interface: !ls, data = !!ls, %cd, %dhist

Tutorial

• http://docs.python.org/tutorial/
• Asides:
  • At "pass", use "notimplemented" demo.
  • At "Data Structures" "ducktyping" demo