No label defined (Q4256342)

The first named author of this book is well-known in the Python community: He has already written the ``Python Pocket Reference'' and ``Programming Python'' (1996; Zbl 0863.68027). Whereas the former is what the title says and the latter is more a handbook than a textbook, the book under review is a well written and clearly structured tutorial, which is perfectly suited for self study. The organisation of the book is dictated by the Python language: The first part describes the core language and the second the outer layers. The sequence of chapters gives a clear impression of the book's structure: After an introductory ``getting started'' chapter follow ``Types and Operators'' and ``Basic Statements''. Then three chapters on program structuring mechanisms, namely ``Functions'', ``Modules'' and ``Classes''. The first part is concluded with an ``Exceptions'' chapter. The second part describes ``Built-in Tools'', ``Common Tasks in Python'' and ``Frameworks and Applications''. The book concludes with some Appendices, including ``Solutions to Exercices'', which are spread throughout the text, and which make the book a primary reference for self study.