Hitchhiker's Guide to Python

http://late.am/post/2011/12/29/hitchhikers-guide-to-python

by dcrosta • 15 years ago

256 35 15 years ago

tdicola• 15 years ago

Wow I really love the idea of a general guide to all things related to a language like this. One of the hardest parts of learning a new language is figuring out what are the best sources of information. I can't wait to see when this is a bit more fleshed out.

dcrosta2• 15 years ago

What's your language of choice? I don't see any reason there shouldn't be "Hitchhiker's Guide to X" for your favorite X.

a_a_r_o_n• 15 years ago

Eff yeah.

This is a great outline for building out your knowledge of Python (or any tech, really). Even where there are stubs, it still points to something you should learn about (and then possibly fill in the stub).

speg• 15 years ago

http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/index.html

Link to actual guide

Fluxx• 15 years ago

Whole guide as a PDF or ePub:

http://media.readthedocs.org/pdf/python-guide/latest/python-...

http://media.readthedocs.org/epub/python-guide/latest/python...

pluies_public• 15 years ago

Not even a "Don't panic!" on the first page of the guide? (http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/index.html) I'm disappointed.

dcrosta2• 15 years ago

Submit a pull request! Fork https://github.com/kennethreitz/python-guide :)

pluies• 15 years ago

Done. ;)

MNo1618• 15 years ago

Great idea. What do you think of the Mark Lutz books.

ultimatewarrior• 15 years ago

Can you use Python for Android programming? Java is truly unbearable :(

jorgecastillo• 15 years ago

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3406334

pseudoswamy• 15 years ago

Scripting Layer for Android supported by Google themselves ( http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting) that lets you program in Python among other scripting languages (Perl, JRuby, Lua, BeanShell, JavaScript, Tcl, and shell)

rgrieselhuber• 15 years ago

This is really great. One of the most daunting aspects of learning a new language has almost nothing to do with the language and much more to do with the surrounding artifacts (package managers, frameworks, etc.)

In almost any language community there is usually an established set of best practices and tools but this can be a quickly moving target, which leaves behind a confusing array of deprecated tools and frameworks that were once the community's preferred way of doing things. Having a running document that keeps everyone up to date helps immensely with adoption. I'd love to see something similar for other communities.

perfunctory2• 15 years ago

I'd rather like to see the target slow down.

perfunctory2• 15 years ago

What's wrong with my comment? Yes, python has a very confusing landscape of package management tools and practices, and indeed it's a quickly moving target. But documenting this mess is not the best solution because than the very documentation becomes a quickly moving target. Package management is not the most difficult problem in the world, is it. The python community should just be a little bolder about breaking backward compatibility.

obtu• 15 years ago

There's a hitchhiker's guide to packaging that covers all aspects of the package lifecycle very well: http://guide.python-distribute.org/

In fact I'm a bit annoyed at seeing this new effort reuse the name, because the hitchhiker's guide to packaging has great content and is getting some well-deserved name recognition. The official Python wiki is another good place to learn and write guides about the ecosystem.

kenneth_reitz2• 15 years ago

The names are both equally original (e.g. stolen from Douglas Adams).

The packaging guide is fantastic, and will be heavily linked to.

jtchang• 15 years ago

I definitely think Python needs more opinionated guides so this is a win. I feel like Python does have enough "do it this way because". I think it has to do with the community just wanting to remain neutral. But you don't often get the best viewpoints when you stay in the middle.

askedrelic• 15 years ago

I agree. I feel like through Github the Ruby community forks, argues, and resolves problems faster than most Python projects do. Maybe I don't read enough mailing lists to see the angry posts, but maybe a bit more contention would be good to move things forward.

sandGorgon2• 15 years ago

Is that a happy side effect because of the fact that Ruby has a gold standard package manager ?

I think so - Python would do well to figure out the distutils/packaging/pip/easy_install confusion.

monkeypizza• 15 years ago

yes, it's the same story when someone asks for an IDE - most guides are just a list of 20 IDEs without any commentary or opinion - despite the fact that some of them represent centuries of developer effort, while others are one guy's 6 month project. It took me a while to find the one I like (Wing IDE)

snprbob86• 15 years ago

Haskell has something similar: http://www.haskell.org/haskellwiki/How_to_write_a_Haskell_pr...

Totally awesome & insanely useful.

I'd really like to see a meta-wiki with many "How to write a _blank_ program" pages. It would be great for languages, but it could also be useful for things like "How to write a 3D simulation program" or "How to write a math-intensive program" that serve as opinionated starting points to save me some time during researching new projects.

g3orge• 15 years ago

when I got started with programming (c), I wondered why not use whitespace instead of curly braces. Then I found Python and its community and I fell in love. Love this idea as well. I will help with what I can.

GiveMeSource2• 15 years ago

I should prefer books that include source code, for example pro python doesn't.

GiveMeSource2• 15 years ago

I should prefer books that include free source code, for example pro python doesn't.

Cushman• 15 years ago

This is a really cool idea, but the name makes me wince.

The "real" Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is described as being a singularly unhelpful book. It "contains much that is apocryphal, or at least wildly inaccurate," but is profitable because of its affordability and the friendly words on the cover. It is as likely to lead you into danger as to help you out of it, which shouldn't be surprising since its editorial staff spend most of their time partying and making up facts to put in the book. Arthur (like the reader) is initially enamored of its space-age technology, but other characters refer to it as "oh, that thing". It's a tabloid rag-- more like a for-profit Encyclopedia Dramatica than Wikipedia.

I know, it's a silly nit to pick, but I often feel like people kind of miss the point of the series.

mkramlich• 15 years ago

How about this as a compromise:

if they come up with a cover for the book, the cover will read, in large friendly letters, "Don't Panic! The python doesn't bite."

quadform• 15 years ago

The name makes me wince as well.

This is because Python is a rather simple and straightforward language. It's not the sort of language that makes you panic at all when you first see it. It doesn't fit. Python is not a "seat of your pants, what the hell is going on, what do you mean my house is being demolished today?, oh the plans on display in the disused lavatory with the sign marked "beware of the leopard"?, oh well may as well enjoy the ride" type of language. The Python community is co-opting the wrong name.

There's gotta be a million better names to use. Some Monty Python-related ideas:

* Yorkshireman's Python Guide: You've got it easy!

* Python Guide: It's wafer thin!

* Python Guide: I like it runny!

* Self-defense against fresh Python: A guide

* Python! Wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more!

* Spam-free guide to Python

* Python: Our chief weapon is simplicity ... simplicity and readability ... readability and simplicity ... Our two weapons are simplicity and readability ... and namespaces .... Our three weapons are simplicity, readability, and namespaces ... and an almost fanatical devotion to Guido .... Our four ... no ... Amongst our weapons .... Amongst our weaponry ... are such elements as simplicity, readability .... I'll come in again.

CesareBorgia• 15 years ago

Is there anything like this for ruby?

Hitchhiker's Guide to Python

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