Python Resources

For Learning Python

I've reviewed these resources and highly recommend them:

• Start with the Official Python Documentation, including the tutorial
• Advanced Python or Understanding Python, Thomas Wouters, Google Tech Talks, February 21, 2007
• Dive Into Python 3 (book, online for free)
• Python Tips (book, online for free)
• Python for Non-Programmers
• https://www.learnpython.org, powered by DataCamp. For example, look at the String Formatting lesson
• Python Google Style Guide.

Data Representation

Numerical Datas

• numpy - numeric analysis in python (needed for matplotlib)
• tabulate - create tables easily
• jupyter notebook

Date Data

• dateutil
• iCalendar package for Python

String Formatting

• https://pyformat.info

Text Processing

See Text processing notes.

Graphing, Graphics and Games

Graphing

• matplotlib - a handy system for plotting in python. (Short example of using matplotlib within jupyter)
• Altair: Declarative Visualization in Python
• geopy - geocoding for Python
• Seaborn. (See Datacamp Tutorial)

Easy Graphics

• Graphics.py: http://mcsp.wartburg.edu/zelle/python/graphics.py http://mcsp.wartburg.edu/zelle/python/ http://mcsp.wartburg.edu/zelle/python/graphics/graphics.pdf
• HTML graphics: http://anh.cs.luc.edu/python/hands-on/3.1/handsonHtml/graphics.html
• http://plotdevice.io/
• http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/AY2013/cs1301_summer/presentations/calico_graphics.pdf

Games

• http://www.pygame.org/ pygame - a Python game development system
• PEAK Easy Install
• Crystal Space 3D
• VPython 3D Programming in Python

Image Manipulation

• Use Pillow, the Python2/3 fork of Python Image Library (PIL).

Fun examples:

• http://jeremykun.com/2012/01/01/random-psychedelic-art/
• http://pythonvision.org/basic-tutorial
• http://stackoverflow.com/questions/138250/read-the-rgb-value-of-a-given-pixel-in-python-programatically

Python GUI Options

I need to write some programs that use GUI.

• tkinter - built in, but not recommended
• pyqt - Use PyQT5 (it's part of Anaconda)
• wxwidgets - It's okay, but use PyQT5
• wikibooks has a page on Python Program/GUI Programming options
• FLTK, the Fast Light Toolkit

Resources for Tkinter

• Chapter 18 of Core Python Programming discusses GUI Programming with Tkinter
• Programming Python, 2nd Edition, Chapter 7 and 8
• reddit has a page on Python 3.x books for Tkinter
• Introduction to Tkinter on effbot.org
• Python 3.2 tkinter doc
• Thinking in Tkinter
• Python wiki 'GUI Programming in Python'
• Python 2.7 Tkinter Doc
• Original 'An introduced to Tkinter' by Fredrik Lundh

Building Web Applications

You basically have two options:

• Write a CGI script (slow, but easy)
• Some sort of Web Server Gateway Interface (WSGI)
• See also https://wiki.python.org/moin/WebFrameworks

Examples and resources:

• https://github.com/MichaelPereira/webhooks-demo-application
• https://mattcarrier.com/flask-dreamhost-setup/
• https://www.byteconsole.com/get-flask-up-and-running-on-a-dreamhost-server-with-passenger/

WSGI options

• Flask (can run on Apache with Passenger, but needs its own domain name)
• CherryPy

Notes on Flask

   $ touch tmp/restart.txt         # reload your program

Using Passengers on Dreamhost

• https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/215769578-Passenger-overview
• https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/216137717-Python-overview
• https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000218612-Installing-a-custom-version-of-Python
• https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000702772-Installing-a-custom-version-of-Python-3
• https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/215489338-Installing-virtualenv-and-custom-modules-in-Python
• https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000221112-Using-pip-to-install-Python-modules

Python Installation

If you are using a Mac, you almost certainly want to ditch Apple's python implementation and instead install your own.

I now recommend the Anaconda Python distribution, because it has almost everything that you need, and it's easy to add new modules.

If you want to write a Python program with a GUI that can be run on any system, you'll need to use Tkinter (Python's Tcl/Tk bindings). If you want to actually enjoy what you are writing, you want to use PyQT5..