Python Programming Questions

I am just beginning to learn how to program for the first time. I have decided that I want to learn Python as my first programming language. Now I was wondering if anyone with experience could give me some advice with the following :

1] Good books to purchase to learn and understand the language
2] Sites that would be of use to me to further my understanding

Any suggestions and advice would be great.

P.S. Yes I have searched the site for any "Python" posts but there only seems to be a few. A lot of the info that I have read seems to be written towards people who have programming experience.

Thank You for the help ....

I keep meaning to get into Python, haven't yet though, anytime I have something to do w/ it I fall back on perl, but I found this site on google. . .
http://www.python.org/topics/learn/non-prog.html buncha beginners tuts.
As far as books you can't go wrong w/ anything by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.

Howdy,

I'm not sure where you searched, but I've posted a series of Python Tutorials.

http://www.antionline.com/showthread...hreadid=244619
http://www.antionline.com/showthread...hreadid=244642
http://www.antionline.com/showthread...hreadid=244664
http://www.antionline.com/showthread...hreadid=249001

I suppose I should start on some more soon. I've been getting lazy. Those are in order. Three introductions and then a simple honey pot. They start from scratch so you should be able to follow them. Feel free to throw me a PM if you need any help.

I was reading your first tutorial and I have a question. Why is it that the input command only works with numbers and not with alphanumeric characters ?

I think that it would be nice it you could write some more tutorials. I for one am really interested in wanting to learn.

I noticed something else it seems that there isn't too many books on Python I've scoured the net and have come up with a few. This is one that I think I will be getting it's called "Learning Python,2nd Edition" ( December 2003) <-- dont know the actual date .. By Mark Lutz, David Ascher. ISBN # well I have too look that up again. Another question when it comes to learning how to program is it better to have current up-to-date books or is it also good to have books that are a year or 2 old ? Just wondering ...

Great tutorials though

I've never read a Python book, with the resouces available on the net, and the profs at school I find I can find everything I need.. so I save my money (my text books cost me enough). Check out python.org though, they have a breakdown of EVERYTHING with examples.

As for your input question...... input is used only for numbers for text you are going to want to use raw_input for characters. Why the code works this way I don't know... but that's how it works... raw_input is the next section in my tutorial after the input portion..