recommendations for books/online tutorials to learn python?

[grahamcooke]

Does anyone have any recommendations for sites/textbooks for learning python based on personal experience please. I am coming from a .net background and for last few months have been working with the flex api but want to expand my skills with GIS and start using python to get more from my applications

[PeterStratton]

For online stuff, check out the sites listed here:

http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide

I'm assuming based on your post in the ArcGIS forums that you are interested in using python 2.6.  When buying books, make sure that they are for a 2.x version of python, not 3.x (the most current).  When you're getting started the differences will drive you nuts.  My favorite python book is:

http://www.amazon.com/Python-Nutshell-Second-Alex-Martelli/dp/0596100469/ref=pd_sim_b6

Have fun!

[grahamcooke]

Thanks very much Peter. I bought it (had to buy from states to get 2nd edition) and it looks like its just what I need.

[StephanieWendel]

If you want some GIS and python practice, we have some free and $32 web courses on our training website that you can take that cover some of the basics.

See this link for the full search I did:
http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=search.results&searchterm=python

[KimOllivier]

My most thumbed book is now rare, but still available on Amazon.

Visual Quickstart Guide Python by Chris Fehily, Peachpit Press first edition. The second edition is a different book by a different author and layout and is useless.

This book has exactly the right level of Python and lots of small examples to illustrate.
http://www.amazon.com/Python-Chris-Fehily/dp/0201748843/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317896965&sr...

Although it is for version 2.1 all of it is still relevant for geoprocessing scripting.

[MikeMacRae]

I started writing python about 4-5 months ago. I've come quite far with it. 2 things got me going. I had a Python for Dummies book, which helped a lot and I still use fairly often when I need something dumbed down a little. The second thing that worked was the ESRI help menus. All the tools have script syntax examples that are fairly easy to understand. It's kind of like learning to play guitar. Practice, practice, practice 🙂

Also, use docs.python.org for a complete list library of python.

The best forums to use are this one (for anything ArcGIS related) and Stack Overflow for everything else. Post your questions and you'll usually get some good responses.