Python

Python is a scripting language written by Guido van Rossom.

The name actually refers to Monty Python, the charmingly irreverent and absurdist comedy troupe, as opposed to venomous snake.

General

• http://www.python.org
• "official" documentation

• Charming Pythonistas, an article about why Python makes a good learning language, and in particular considers the underrepresentation of female programmers

Learning Python

• Learn Python the Hard Way

• How to Think Like a (Python) Programmer

Has been used in the course as a textbook

• http://hetland.org/writing/instant-hacking.html

A nice quick intro to programming with Python as the specific language.

• http://www.diveintopython.net/

Another good, free, resource, by Mark Pilgrim (and mirrored now)

• http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/womenintech/2007/09/11/charming-pythonistas.html

Interesting discussion about the merits of Python as a learning language, and the "gender gap" in programming

• A Python "Cheat Sheet" -- hmmm, might it not be a good project to be able to generate your own "cheat sheets"?

Useful Add-ons (Libraries)

• PythonImageLibrary (PIL)
• feedparser

Applications that use/support Python plugins/extensions

• GIMP has GIMP-python to allow python plugins
• Inkscape can use any language scripts, including Python, as filters (or "effects")
• Blender has an embedded Python interpreter
• Dia via a python plugin
• Scribus has a scripting API that uses Python