Python, where and what?

[Leviathanos]

So I was wondering if I could get some help. I was at first thinking of choosing C# but I was told it's better to learn Python first, as I am new to programming (Pretty much).
First of all, where do you download it? Their site looked so fucked up, so I just got confused.

and where can I find some good tutorials to get started?

Thank you.

[blankthemuffin]

Well you go to python.org and hit the 'Download' button, downloading the installer is probably a good bet presuming you're on windows.

Then you go back to python.org and the 'Documentation' button, then look around and find something that suits you, one of the tutorials maybe, or one of the links like the beginners guide.

[pikzen]

C# is perfectly good to start with.
Python : [url]http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7/python-2.7.msi[/url]

[Leviathanos]

[QUOTE=pikzen;23940486]C# is perfectly good to start with.
Python : [url]http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7/python-2.7.msi[/url][/QUOTE]

I had no idea...Then once again I am unsure which to go for..since I've always been interested in making apps.

What happened to that awesome thread for beginners, with tutorial links and all that..I know they had a bunch of stuff for C#

[pikzen]

If you want a (very) good C# book, go for O'Reilly books. C# in a Nutshell and Head First C# are very good ones.

[backwardspy]

Yeah, where DID the sticky go? That was so useful for clearing up threads like this one

[EdoI]

I absolutely support learning Python. To get started, download both 2.x and 3.x latest versions, and something where both versions are covered - there's free Swaroop's great book to get you started ([url=http://www.swaroopch.com/notes/Python]here[/url]. Beside that, I also read [url=http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-Powerful-Object-Oriented-Programming/dp/0596158068/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281626533&sr=8-1]this book[/url], and it's really a great introduction, so I recommend it if you're serious and have time (it's very wordy).

[efeX]

[QUOTE=Chris220;23961362]Yeah, where DID the sticky go? That was so useful for clearing up threads like this one[/QUOTE]

Eh.. there was still a thread like this almost daily.

[backwardspy]

[QUOTE=efeX;24027412]Eh.. there was still a thread like this almost daily.[/QUOTE]
Fair point, but at least we could just throw them a link to the sticky

[JenkinsJ]

If you're new programming and want to start with Python like I did I recommend this:

[url]http://code.google.com/edu/languages/google-python-class/[/url]

[Veid]

Download Python here: [url]http://python.org/download/[/url]
Since you're new to programming, I suggest you go here: [url]http://openbookproject.net/thinkcs/python/english2e/[/url]

It's an excellent book that teaches you much more than syntax, it teaches you how to..."Think like a computer scientist".

[Richy13]

Hey i read that theres some big differences between the 2.6v and the 3.0v
just wondered which one is better/easier to learn/more recommended?

[esalaka]

[QUOTE=Richy19;24208620]Hey i read that theres some big differences between the 2.6v and the 3.0v
just wondered which one is better/easier to learn/more recommended?[/QUOTE]

Depends on what you wanna do. If you ain't gonna be writing scripts for, say, Blender, you're probably gonna be just fine with 3.x

[Richy13]

Are these 2 books any good for learning python?

[url]http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Python-Mark-Lutz/dp/0596009259[/url]

[url]http://www.amazon.com/Python-Cookbook-Alex-Martelli/dp/0596007973/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b[/url]

[TheBoff]

[QUOTE=esalaka;24208834]Depends on what you wanna do. If you ain't gonna be writing scripts for, say, Blender, you're probably gonna be just fine with 3.x[/QUOTE]

I would disagree: very little outside of the standard libraries supports python 3 at the moment: I can't find a windowing or game programming library, so would say that you're still better off sticking with 2.7.

If you're more or less a beginner at programming, I can heartily recommend O'Reilly's "Learning Python". It certainly worked for me!

[ROBO_DONUT]

[QUOTE=TheBoff;24209324]I would disagree: very little outside of the standard libraries supports python 3 at the moment: I can't find a windowing or game programming library, so would say that you're still better off sticking with 2.7.[/QUOTE]
What libraries are you looking at, specifically? All the libs I frequently use support Python 3, including PyGTK+ and PyGame.

[TheBoff]

Pylget, and wxPython: apologies, I was going on a rather cursory google. I couldn't really find a clear verdict on PyGTK, but evidently it works :D.