Python, beyond the basics [closed]

Question

I've gotten to grips with the basics of Python and I've got a small holiday which I want to use some of to learn a little more Python. The problem is that I have no idea what to learn or where to start. I'm primarily web development but in this case I don't know how much difference it will make.

Answer 1

Well, there are great ressources for advanced Python programming :

• Dive Into Python (read it for free)
• Online python cookbooks (e.g. here and there)
• O'Reilly's Python Cookbook (see amazon)
• A funny riddle game : Python Challenge

Here is a list of subjects you must master if you want to write "Python" on your resume :

• list comprehensions
• iterators and generators
• decorators

They are what make Python such a cool language (with the standard library of course, that I keep discovering everyday).

Answer 2

Depending on exactly what you mean by "gotten to grips with the basics", I'd suggest reading through Dive Into Python and typing/executing all the chapter code, then get something like Programming Collective Intelligence and working through it - you'll learn python quite well, not to mention some quite excellent algorithms that'll come in handy to a web developer.

Answer 3

Something great to play around with, though not a project, is The Python Challenge. I've found it quite useful in improving my python skills, and it gives your brain a good workout at the same time.

Answer 4

I honestly loved the book Programming Python. It has a large assortment of small projects, most of which can be completed in an evening at a leisurely pace. They get you acquainted with most of the standard library and will likely hold your interest. Most importantly these small projects are actually useful in a "day to day" sense. The book pretty much only assumes you know and understand the bare essentials of Python as a language, rather than knowledge of it's huge API library.

I think you'll find it'll be well worth working through.