Programming Python, 2nd Edition (book/cd-rom)

Solutions for Python Programmers

Programming Python focuses on advanced uses of the Python programming/ scripting language, which has evolved from an emerging language of interest primarily to pioneers, to a widely accepted tool that traditional programmers use for real day-to-day development tasks. With Python, you can do almost anything you can do with C++; but Python is an interpreted language designed for rapid application development and deployment. Among other things, Python supports object-oriented programming; a remarkably simple, readable, and maintainable syntax; integration with C components; and a vast collection of pre-coded interfaces and utilities.

As Python has grown to embrace developers on a number of different platforms (Unix, Linux, Windows, Mac), companies have taken notice and are adopting Python for their products. It has shown up animating the latest Star Wars movie, serving up maps and directories on the Internet, guiding users through Linux installations, testing chips and boards, managing Internet discussion forums, scripting online games, and even scripting wireless products.

Programming Python is the most comprehensive resource for advanced Python programmers available today. Reviewed and endorsed by Python creator Guido van Rossum, who also provides the foreword, this book zeroes in on real-world Python applications. It's been updated for Python 2.0 and covers Internet scripting, systems programming, Tkinter GUIs, C integration domains, and new Python tools and applications. Among them: IDLE, JYthon, Active Scripting and COM extensions, Zope, PSP server pages, restricted execution mode, the HTMLgen and SWIG code generators, thread support, CGI and Internet protocol modules. Such applications are the heart and soul of this second edition.

Veteran O'Reilly author Mark Lutz has included a platform-neutral CD-ROM with book examples and various Python-related packages, including the full Python 2.0 source code distribution.

Topics covered:

• Introduction to Python
  
• Basic system scripts with Python (including file and directory tools)
  
• Working with processes and threads
  
• Pipes and signals
  
• Sample scripts for system and Web utilities (including backing up files, program launching, replicating and managing directories)
  
• Graphical user interface design in Python (including the Tkinter module)
  
• Widgets and basic components
  
• Layout options
  
• Event handling
  
• GUI examples (including a working text editor, image viewer, and clock)
  
• Network scripting (sockets, FTP, and e-mail clients)
  
• Server-side scripting
  
• Sample server scripts for an online errata database
  
• Python on the Internet (including Zope, JPython, and XML tools)
  
• Databases and persistence in Python (including pickled objects and shelf files)
  
• Custom and built-in data structures in Python
  
• Text and string handling
  
• C integration with Python (including the SWIG module)
  
• Embedding Python calls within C
  
• Hints for using Python in real projects
  
• Reference to recent changes to Python
  
• Python vs. C++ quick-start guide.

About the Author
Mark Lutz is an independent Python trainer, writer, and software developer, and is one of the primary figures in the Python community. He is the author of the O'Reilly books Programming Python and Python Pocket Reference (both in 2nd Editions), and co-author of Learning Python (both in 2nd Editions). Mark has been involved with Python since 1992, began teaching Python classes in 1997, and has instructed over 90 Python training sessions as of early 2003. In addition, he holds BS and MS degrees in computer science from the University of Wisconsin, and over the last two decades has worked on compilers, programming tools, scripting applications, and assorted client/server systems. Whenever Mark gets a break from spreading the Python word, he leads an ordinary, average life with his kids in Colorado. Mark can be reached by email at , or on the web at http://www.rmi.net/~lutz.