Python in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition


This book offers Python programmers one place to look when they needhelp remembering or deciphering the syntax of this open source languageand its many powerful but scantily documented modules. Thiscomprehensive reference guide makes it easy to look up the mostfrequently needed information–not just about the Python languageitself, but also the most frequently used parts of the standard libraryand the most important third-party extensions.

Ask any Python aficionado and you’ll hear that Python programmers haveit all: an elegant object-oriented language with readable andmaintainable syntax, that allows for easy integration with componentsin C, C++, Java, or C#, and an enormous collection of precoded standardlibrary and third-party extension modules. Moreover, Python is easy tolearn, yet powerful enough to take on the most ambitious programmingchallenges. But what Python programmers used to lack is a concise andclear reference resource, with the appropriate measure of guidance inhow best to use Python’s great power. Python in aNutshell fills this need.

Python in a Nutshell, Second Edition covers morethan the language itself; it also deals with the mostfrequently used parts of the standard library, and the most popular andimportant third party extensions. Revised and expanded forPython 2.5, this book now contains the gory details of Python’s newsubprocess module and breaking news about Microsoft’s newIronPython project. Our “Nutshell” format fits Python perfectly bypresenting the highlights of the most important modules and functionsin its standard library, which cover over 90% of your practicalprogramming needs. This book includes:

  • A fast-paced tutorial on the syntax of the Python language
  • An explanation of object-oriented programming in Python
  • Coverage of iterators, generators, exceptions, modules,packages, strings, and regular expressions
  • A quick reference for Python’s built-in types and functionsand key modules
  • Reference material on important third-party extensions,such as Numeric and Tkinter
  • Information about extending and embedding Python

Python in a Nutshell provides a solid,no-nonsense quick reference to information that programmers rely on themost. This book will immediately earn its place in any Pythonprogrammer’s library.

Praise for the First Edition:
“In a nutshell, Python in a Nutshell serves oneprimary goal: to act as an immediately accessible goal for the Pythonlanguage. True, you can get most of the same core information that ispresented within the covers of this volume online, but this willinvariably be broken into multiple files, and in all likelihood lackingthe examples or the exact syntax description necessary to trulyunderstand a command.”
–Richard Cobbett, Linux Format

“O’Reilly has several good books, of which Python in aNutshell by Alex Martelli is probably the best for giving yousome idea of what Python is about and how to do useful things with it.”
–Jerry Pournelle, Byte Magazine

Table of Contents
Part I: Getting Started with Python
Chapter 1. Introduction to Python
Chapter 2. Installation
Chapter 3. The Python Interpreter

Part II: Core Python Language and Built-ins
Chapter 4. The Python Language
Chapter 5. Object-Oriented Python
Chapter 6. Exceptions
Chapter 7. Modules
Chapter 8. Core Built-ins
Chapter 9. Strings and Regular Expressions

Part III: Python Library and Extension Modules
Chapter 10. File and Text Operations
Chapter 11. Persistence and Databases
Chapter 12. Time Operations
Chapter 13. Controlling Execution
Chapter 14. Threads and Processes
Chapter 15. Numeric Processing
Chapter 16. Array Processing
Chapter 17. Tkinter GUIs
Chapter 18. Testing, Debugging, and Optimizing

Part IV: Network and Web Programming
Chapter 19. Client-Side Network Protocol Modules
Chapter 20. Sockets and Server-Side Network Protocol Modules
Chapter 21. CGI Scripting and Alternatives
Chapter 22. MIME and Network Encodings
Chapter 23. Structured Text: HTML
Chapter 24. Structured Text: XML

Part V: Extending and Embedding
Chapter 25. Extending and Embedding Classic Python
Chapter 26. Extending and Embedding Jython
Chapter 27. Distributing Extensions and Programs

Book Details

  • Paperback: 738 pages
  • Publisher: O’Reilly Media; 2nd Edition (July 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0596100469
  • ISBN-13: 978-0596100469
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