Comments on: Two free Python e-books http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/ Fresh Blender News, Every Day Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:05:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Thud http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-373902 Thud Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:27:21 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-373902 "Invent your own computer games with Python" is the perfect beginner book because it throws you into a full program right away. Best reasons it's useful for a newbie: 1. code can't easily be copy-and-pasted from the book since each line is labeled 01. 02. 03. etc. This forces you to type the lines yourself which equates to practice, practice, practice. 2. each program is explained once...then twice...then a third time through a "tracing" page. your comprehension should be thorough. 3. ok fine, "computer games" is the perfect buzzword to convince a slacker to finally 'dive into Python.' Let's face it, this is a Blender community and the majority of Blender users getting into Python are probably doing it to make games. even though this book isn't going to teach you anything about using Python with Blender, it is a solid 4.9/5 introduction to Python. "Invent your own computer games with Python" is the perfect beginner book because it throws you into a full program right away.

Best reasons it's useful for a newbie:
1. code can't easily be copy-and-pasted from the book since each line is labeled 01. 02. 03. etc. This forces you to type the lines yourself which equates to practice, practice, practice.
2. each program is explained once…then twice…then a third time through a "tracing" page. your comprehension should be thorough.
3. ok fine, "computer games" is the perfect buzzword to convince a slacker to finally 'dive into Python.' Let's face it, this is a Blender community and the majority of Blender users getting into Python are probably doing it to make games. even though this book isn't going to teach you anything about using Python with Blender, it is a solid 4.9/5 introduction to Python.

]]> By: Al Sweigart http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-372663 Al Sweigart Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:54:17 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-372663 Hey, thanks for linking to my book! I have to mention that "Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python" is designed to teach nonprogrammers (specifically kids around 10 or 12 years old, perhaps teenagers. Though it is not at all written in a "kiddie" manner), so if you already know programming, you won't learn anything new. But if you are new to programming, or just want examples of complete source code for games, then it'll work. If you already know programming and just want to learn Python, I recommend Dive Into Python, which is also free: http://diveintopython.org/ Hey, thanks for linking to my book! I have to mention that "Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python" is designed to teach nonprogrammers (specifically kids around 10 or 12 years old, perhaps teenagers. Though it is not at all written in a "kiddie" manner), so if you already know programming, you won't learn anything new. But if you are new to programming, or just want examples of complete source code for games, then it'll work.

If you already know programming and just want to learn Python, I recommend Dive Into Python, which is also free: http://diveintopython.org/

]]> By: Noodlesgc http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-372072 Noodlesgc Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:08:44 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-372072 If you think you know python, or you are learning it, I think the greatest and most exiting way is the Python Challenge. http://www.pythonchallenge.com/ Even if you are a Python whiz, it is still fun. Also, if anyone is planning on reading Dive Into Python on Ubuntu, you already have it! Just go to /usr/share/doc/diveintopython and there is is! (Or open the help program and search for "Dive into python") If you think you know python, or you are learning it, I think the greatest and most exiting way is the Python Challenge.

http://www.pythonchallenge.com/

Even if you are a Python whiz, it is still fun.

Also, if anyone is planning on reading Dive Into Python on Ubuntu, you already have it!
Just go to /usr/share/doc/diveintopython and there is is! (Or open the help program and search for "Dive into python")

]]> By: ysvry http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-371536 ysvry Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:28:48 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-371536 thx, guess i have to learn a funny walk too now. thx, guess i have to learn a funny walk too now.

]]> By: jacques http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-371462 jacques Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:54:39 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-371462 thanks a lot for the link with the 10 python books! thanks a lot for the link with the 10 python books!

]]> By: differentSmoke http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-371414 differentSmoke Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:18:27 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-371414 I have to agree with Bassam, "How to think like a Computer Scientist..." taught me a lot. I have to agree with Bassam, "How to think like a Computer Scientist…" taught me a lot.

]]> By: Gryphon http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-371353 Gryphon Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:00:18 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-371353 Wow... this article was a landmark when I went to bed last night... Today it's a gold mine! Wow… this article was a landmark when I went to bed last night… Today it's a gold mine!

]]> By: verb http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-371332 verb Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:07:24 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-371332 "Dive Into Python" is the best. "Dive Into Python" is the best.

]]> By: Bassam http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-371294 Bassam Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:28:10 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-371294 I really enjoyed this one: http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkCSpy/ I really enjoyed this one: http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkCSpy/

]]> By: Aka http://www.blendernation.com/2008/08/29/two-free-python-e-books/#comment-371284 Aka Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:05:34 +0000 http://www.blendernation.com/?p=4501#comment-371284 -------------> Byte of Python. <---------------------- Duh. ————-> Byte of Python. <———————- Duh.

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