Wesley J Chun - Core Python Applications Programming

Third Edition

Wesley J. Chun

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chun, Wesley.
Core python applications programming / Wesley J. Chun. 3rd ed.
p. cm.
Rev. ed. of: Core Python programming / Wesley J. Chun. c2007.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-13-267820-9 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Python (Computer program language) I. Chun, Wesley. Core Python
programming. II. Title.
QA76.73.P98C48 2012
005.1'17dc23 2011052903

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by copyright, and permission must be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your request to (201) 236-3290.

ISBN-13: 978-0-13-267820-9
ISBN-10: 0-13-267820-9

Text printed in the United States on recycled paper at Edwards Brothers in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
First printing, March 2012

The simplified yet deep level of detail, comprehensive coverage of material, and informative historical references make this book perfect for the classroom... An easy read, with complex examples presented simply, and great historical references rarely found in such books. Awesome!

Gloria W.

The long-awaited second edition of Wesley Chuns Core Python Programming proves to be well worth the waitits deep and broad coverage and useful exercises will help readers learn and practice good Python.

Alex Martelli, author of Python in a Nutshell and editor of Python Cookbook

There has been lot of good buzz around Wesley Chuns Core Python Programming. It turns out that all the buzz is well earned. I think this is the best book currently available for learning Python. I would recommend Chuns book over Learning Python (OReilly), Programming Python (OReilly), or The Quick Python Book (Manning).

David Mertz, Ph.D., IBM DeveloperWorks

I have been doing a lot of research [on] Python for the past year and have seen a number of positive reviews of your book. The sentiment expressed confirms the opinion that Core Python Programming is now considered the standard introductory text.

Richard Ozaki, Lockheed Martin

Finally, a book good enough to be both a textbook and a reference on the Python language now exists.

Michael Baxter, Linux Journal

Very well written. It is the clearest, friendliest book I have come across yet for explaining Python, and putting it in a wider context. It does not presume a large amount of other experience. It does go into some important Python topics carefully and in depth. Unlike too many beginner books, it never condescends or tortures the reader with childish hide-and-seek prose games. [It] sticks to gaining a solid grasp of Python syntax and structure.

http://python.org bookstore Web site

[If] I could only own one Python book, it would be Core Python Programming by Wesley Chun. This book manages to cover more topics in more depth than Learning Python but includes it all in one book that also more than adequately covers the core language. [If] you are in the market for just one book about Python, I recommend this book. You will enjoy reading it, including its wry programmers wit. More importantly, you will learn Python. Even more importantly, you will find it invaluable in helping you in your day-to-day Python programming life. Well done, Mr. Chun!

Ron Stephens, Python Learning Foundation

I think the best language for beginners is Python, without a doubt. My favorite book is Core Python Programming.

s003apr, MP3Car.com Forums

Personally, I really like Python. Its simple to learn, completely intuitive, amazingly flexible, and pretty darned fast. Python has only just started to claim mindshare in the Windows world, but look for it to start gaining lots of support as people discover it. To learn Python, Id start with Core Python Programming by Wesley Chun.

Bill Boswell, MCSE, Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online

If you learn well from books, I suggest Core Python Programming. It is by far the best Ive found. Im a Python newbie as well and in three months time Ive been able to implement Python in projects at work (automating MSOffice, SQL DB stuff, etc.).

ptonman, Dev Shed Forums

Python is simply a beautiful language. Its easy to learn, its cross-platform, and it works. It has achieved many of the technical goals that Java strives for. A one-sentence description of Python would be: All other languages appear to have evolved over timebut Python was designed. And it was designed well. Unfortunately, there arent a large number of books for Python. The best one Ive run across so far is Core Python Programming.

Chris Timmons, C. R. Timmons Consulting

If you like the Prentice Hall Core series, another good full-blown treatment to consider would be Core Python Programming. It addresses in elaborate concrete detail many practical topics that get little, if any, coverage in other books.

Mitchell L. Model, MLM Consulting

To my parents,
who taught me that everybody is different.

And to my wife,
who lives with someone who is different.

We are delighted that you have engaged us to help you learn Python as quickly and as deeply as possible. The goal of the Core Python series of books is not to just teach developers the Python language; we want you you to develop enough of a personal knowledge base to be able to develop software in any application area.

In our other Core Python offerings, Core Python Programming and Core Python Language Fundamentals, we not only teach you the syntax of the Python language, but we also strive to give you in-depth knowledge of how Python works under the hood. We believe that armed with this knowledge, you will write more