Python is Amazing

Computer Programming for Everybody!

This lens is about the Python programming language. Get started straight away at current downloads. A 2.5.2 release with some bug fixes is due out in February.

I try to tag the amazing things people are doing with Python in my del.icio.us feed. Keep your eye on Planet Python or its RSS feed for other interesting new stuff.

There's always something new in the Python world.

Buy Python Stuff

Buy stuff, donate to the Python Software Foundation

Official Python Merchandise : CafePress.com

Why Python is Amazing

Why do so many programmers love this amazing language?

If you are wondering about trying Python, here are some of the most important reasons why you should. Python is ...

Easy to learn
Easy to apply to a wide variety of problems
Available for every significant operating system
Eminently suited to writing network applications
Already used in a wide range of applications
Supported by a vibrant and helpful community
Easy to integrate with other programming languages and environments
The subject of an excellent literature from a range of publishers

Lots To Read About Python

These are just a few of the many Python books you can find.

Python in a Nutshell

by Alex Martelli

Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 08/19/2008)

Python Web Programming (Landmark)

by Steve Holden

Amazon Price: (as of 08/19/2008)

Foundations of Python Network Programming (Foundations)

by John Goerzen

Amazon Price: $38.24 (as of 08/19/2008)

Useful Python Links

Places to Go for More Information

There's a wealth of information about Python on the web. As ever, Google is your friend. This section gives you a few concise links to encourage you to find out more and get you started.

Cross-Platform Python GUIs: Want your applications to be easy to use on Windows, Mac and Linux? wxPython is one solution to meet your needs.
Python for Scientists: Newcomers to Python are sometimes surpised to discover that it's popular with the scientific community. I suspect this is because using Python allows scientists to write their software quickly and get on with their real interests, but you'll have to ask the scientists themselves if you want a real answer!
Python Charting Library: Id you need to create line plots, bar plots, range-fill plots, and pie charts in Encapsulated Postscript, PDF, PNG, or SVG then this library can help.
Complex Document Creation: The ReportLab open source toolkit is one of the most full-featured libraries available for PDF creation. The toolkit includes platform-independent graphics, Python Point and a host of other related tools.
Python: A Business Competitive Edge: How Python helped a small new company to successfully bid for a large company's business
More Than 300 Python Tutorials: If you need to learn Python there's a wealth of tutorial information on the web. This list, maintained by Ron Stephens, will help you find something that suits your temperament and applications area.
Quotes About Python: http://www.squidoo.com/images/icon-reorder.gif
reorderLook at what some of the best-known and most-successful organisations in the world have to say about Python.
Geekophilia: Python in 7 Minutes: Richard Dooling explains to complete novices how to get Python installed on their computer in seven minutes. Terrific idea! Well done, Richard.
Python Videos: ShowMeDo has a range of Python videos, starting with downloading and installing the language and ranging right through GUI programming with wxPython.

Technical Stuff: Getting Down and Dirty

This section list occasional interesting snippets for the more technical lens reader

Ian Bicking's workingenv: Ian has revised his system for providing an "install environment" for Python systems. The idea is to allow each Python application to stand alone, with its own version of the libraries it uses. This should help in removing "version lockstep" from Python installations. Thanks, Ian!
Uphook: Top 10 Adsense Tools: Interesting to get some sense of how to benefit from Google's AdSense service.

What's Happening on Planet Python

Keep your eye on this one - it moves fast!

Planet Python shows the latest web contributions of interest to the Python world. To stay up to date with all Python news you can see the full RSS feed here. This section just shows the latest 5 entries, updated 4 times a day.

Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Who Uses Python and What Do They Look Like?

Geeks-R-Us is only a part of the Python community

Want your photo here? If it's on Flickr, just drop Steve a line!

Guido van Rossum, Python's inventor, now works at Google

Tim Peters has been a mainstay of Python development for a long time

At the 2006 PyCon Bram Cohen (left), the inventor of BitTorrent, gave an interview

Python is Popular in China too - luckily it handles Unicode exceptionally well

Fredrik Lundh maintains the Python Imaging Library and much other stuff

2006-05-21.18133400--browse.jpg by Richard Jones

Out for more partying after the CCP welcome party.

2006-05-25.11185801--browse.jpg by Richard Jones

The Need For Speed crew, relaxing at the Blue Lagoon

Sean Reifschneider

The second best picture ever of Tim Peters

David Ascher, long-time PSF director

Adrian Holovaty, Django developer

Simon Willison and Jacob Kaplan-Moss by Uhop

Simon Willison and Jacob Kaplan-Moss of the Django team

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