Hello! Python

As an advocate for python programming, I had high hopes for this book.However, all I can say is that I am just very disappointed.I waited almost two years and didn't get the material that was advertised and promised - you can read my post called "Delayed" noted below.No Python 3, one chapter on Pyglet that was lacking, and 400 pages I can't utilize as a reference.The Good: It's a good introduction to some of the more popular libraries available for python. The topics of testing and user exceptions are really good, but those doesn't justify reading the full text. I appreciate the building block approach of developing a program and making it better (Hunt the Wumpus). The best point is that Anthony Briggs shows Python's ability to work on Windows, Mac, and LinuxThe Bad: It's really an introduction intermediate book vs a beginner book. Like the other reviews have mentioned, this book doesn't cover Python syntax. As noted above, he wrote the book using Python 2.6 vs. 3.X which is unacceptable. The author expects the reader to use the Help command to figure things out. Because the reader hasn't been taught python commands and syntax, the program breakout formations are difficult to comprehend unless you have some previous background with python programming. The explanation of Classes is just not good at all. The chapters are extremely long without break points and the comics don't really help enough to keep up the interest level. Finally, the topic flow and doesn't really make senseThe Ugly: The author admits that he "borrows" and "steals" ideas and code that the reader could Google (which I recommend). The author starts out with developing and modifying a game program to develop various concepts and then just switches gears to a business vantage and then tries to go back into game development. It would have been better if he had stuck with games and did another book with the business applications.Borrow this book from the library and save your money for better books.As mentioned in previous reviews, I recommend "Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, 2nd Edition" by Al Sweigart which is written in Python 3 (and available as a free PDF) or "Game Programming: The L Line, The Express Line to Learning" (The L Line: The Express Line To Learning) by Andy Harris even though it's written with Python 2.

It was good for my son.

My daughter received this book for Christmas. It was just what she wanted. I would recommend this book for any person wanting to learn more computer programming.

The preface really had me excited with its promise of being "not just another dull intro book". Unfortunately, there's nothing 'intro' about this book. By the end of the second chapter the examples become extremely confusing for someone with no programming experience.I think that the author was striving for examples that did more than print out "hello world!". Unfortunately, he chose examples that highlighted the complexity associated with any computer language syntax. Combine that with ultra brief explanations of what the reader is seeing, and you get a book with an extremely high frustration rate.Result = me giving up and moving on to other booksMy alternative recommendations1) Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner, 3rd Edition Michael DawsonOffers a very gentle intro with all of the syntax explained right there in the book.2) Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science 2nd Edition John ZelleOffers an intro college course exposure

I really liked it because it covers interesting and useful topics that are a little beyond the basic beginner books.Plus the end code is available to help, and there is an accompanying forum for problem solving.But before you buy it, I'd have to agree that complete beginners are going to have to be prepared for a little extra thinking with it. Possibly it could do with some polishing to help make it a little easier for that category.Not sure if it was aimed at that market; there is another Manning book for complete beginners called 'Hello World'.I guess its the cartoony cover which makes it appear a bit more beginner friendly.Nonetheless, its quite good for those who are appreciate the frustrations of coding, and want to start using Python in some pretty useful little applications (eg. building your own app for Django, or interacting with the web).For example, there's a fair bit of code handed to you piece by piece, which assumes a bit of comfort with what was going on.I found sometimes I had to get the final code to make sure I was on track, which takes a little bit of extra work.One example, the Todo's application in Chapter 4 which consists of a program and test program.I was scratching around sometimes wondering where the code was meant to go.I then opened the full code, and had the realisation that each function in the test code was prefaced by 'test_'Actually quite simple, and I can understand why the author overlooked that.But to spoon feed new aspiring pythonistas, it probably would have been helpful to add such comments as:"from here on, each function that begins with test_ goes into the test_todo.py module, while the functions without test_ go into the program todo.py module".Possibly also some more code pictures in the book to show the progression as modules are being built up.Dealing with the constant bugs that appeared, generally through syntax errors, also took a bit of time.But again, perservering with it brought me a lot more comfort with what was going on.Eg, introducing Print statements throughout to see what the variables were returning was useful, and probably a screenshot or two could be used to help explain a bit more clearly to beginners to help them .Once I took the time to push through those little inconveniences, the resultant examples were quite enjoyable and the learning accelerated quite a bit.Anyway, if the next edition takes into account some of the feedback for beginners and makes it a little more digestible that would be welcome. Nonetheless, in the meantime its a good book that I'm enjoying...just took a bit of extra perseverance (and the discovery of the accompanying forum, not overly active but nonetheless a source of additional guidance).

Sadly to say this book just fails what it attempts to do; teach programming with Python. It tends to gloss over pretty important details that beginners to programming would need (variable types ect...) and goes from one end of the spectrum to the other regarding difficulty. The structure of the book is poor and is not suitable for a beginner. Save your money and try another Python intro book; "Hello World","Python Programming; an introduction to computer science."

Ich bin ein erfahrener Python-Entwickler, und dies ist vermeintlich ein Anfänger-Buch. Es ist auch wahr, das Buch kann ein Anfänger durchlesen und durcharbeiten, und sich somit zum fast-Profi machen. Die Projekt-Erfahrungen muss man selber machen, aber das Buch gibt einem so viel Substanz, dass man sehr gut gewappnet in das "echte" Leben eintauchen kann. Für uns Profis hat es immer noch mehr als genug zu bieten - man lernt die modernen Python-Bibliotheken im Kontext kennen; was will man mehr?Unbedingte Empfehlung, für jung und alt!