Python

[Shpira]

Hey guys...just wanted to see if any of you is using this language and what your thoughts are on it?
I have started learning it recently (I have no previous programming experience) as I basically need a language basis and then plan to get on to fpga programming and perhaps c.
Mainly concerned with quick data processing...as we deal with trading API's and creating high frequency trading models...I know python is not that great for that but hence the turn into fpga...btw anyone know anything about fpga programming?


p.s. title ended up screwed up - sorry should read just "Python"

[demonAfro]

Re: Pythonst wanted to see

Yes, yes. I'm pretty much a Python expert

Very easy to learn, and it is perfect for scientific computing (my field). You can always implement the speed critical bits in C if you need to but even for rapid prototyping you can't go wrong. How are you learning?

[Shpira]

Re: Pythonst wanted to see

Got a bunch of books and some programmers around so...slowly is the answer really Do you have any recomended reading material or any advice? I am really a beginner but pretty keen!
Got a ton on my plate now...trading, sales and programming on the side

[res0nat0r]

Re: Pythonst wanted to see

How beginner are you?

Learn Python The Hard Way is a good, free online book by Zed Shaw if you have very little programming experience:

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/

The standard huge book reference is a monster at like 1300 pages is the O'Reilly book:

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Python-Mark-Lutz/dp/0596158106

I really like the O'Reilly cookbook series as they have simple problems, code solutions and explanations. This is the one for Python:

http://www.amazon.com/Python-Cookbook-Alex-Martelli/dp/0596007973

[Shpira]

Re: Pythonst wanted to see

Yeah thanks I got all of those already...

[res0nat0r]

Re: Pythonst wanted to see

doh

[demonAfro]

Re: Pythonst wanted to see

To be honest, I've never read a single programming book, but people swear by the O'Reilly.

Learn by doing, imo. There are some very simple logic puzzles that you can do interactively at CodingBat http://codingbat.com/python and if you feel like using your maths I learnt a lot about how things work by implementing and optimising a load of Project Euler solutions in Python http://projecteuler.net/

The best website on how to write Python is "Code Like a Pythonista: Idiomatic Python" http://python.net/~goodger/projects/...c/handout.html many examples of how to write code the right way, incredibly useful.

Will also keep an eye on this thread if any questions pop up...

[picklemonkey]

Re: Python

I've always wanted to get into Python because it can run cross-platform, but with the advent of the Internet and PHP I just don't see the need to write Client/Server based apps anymore

[demonAfro]

Re: Python

Python is better than PHP for web programming anyhow