<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC '-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN'  'http://www.docbook.org/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd'><article><articleinfo><title>LearningPython</title><revhistory><revision><revnumber>3</revnumber><date>2013-03-07 21:24:08</date><authorinitials>localhost</authorinitials><revremark>converted to 1.6 markup</revremark></revision><revision><revnumber>2</revnumber><date>2006-09-01 09:41:01</date><authorinitials>cmbg-cache-2.server.ntli.net</authorinitials></revision><revision><revnumber>1</revnumber><date>2006-07-06 11:36:06</date><authorinitials>devel03.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk</authorinitials></revision></revhistory></articleinfo><section><title>Getting Started with Python</title><para>To quote from the <ulink url="http://www.python.org">Python website</ulink>: </para><itemizedlist><listitem override="none"><para>Python is a dynamic object-oriented programming language that can be used for many kinds of software development. It offers strong support for integration with other languages and tools, comes with extensive standard libraries, and can be learned in a few days. Many Python programmers report substantial productivity gains and feel the language encourages the development of higher quality, more maintainable code. </para></listitem></itemizedlist><para>It has very good support for arrays and matrices when combined with the <ulink url="http://numeric.scipy.org/">numerical python libraries</ulink>.   </para><para>The single most useful source that I (<ulink url="https://lsr-wiki-02.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/imaging/LearningPython/imaging/MatthewBrett#">MatthewBrett</ulink>) have found is the the book <ulink url="http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/lpython2/">Learning Python</ulink> by Mark Lutz and David Ascher.  I have a couple of copies in my office to lend if you are interested.  </para><para>Other resources are: </para><itemizedlist><listitem><para><ulink url="http://www.python.org/about/gettingstarted/">Python for Beginners</ulink> </para></listitem><listitem><para><ulink url="http://rgruet.free.fr/PQR24/PQR2.4.html">Python Quick Reference</ulink> </para></listitem><listitem><para><ulink url="http://www.third-bit.com/swc/index.html">Software Engineering for Scientists and Engineers</ulink> by <ulink url="http://www.third-bit.com/~gvwilson/">Dr. Gregory V. Wilson</ulink> </para></listitem><listitem><para><ulink url="http://scipy.org/NumPy_for_Matlab_Users">NumPy for Matlab Users</ulink> </para></listitem><listitem><para><ulink url="http://scipy.org">Scientific Tools for Python</ulink> </para></listitem><listitem><para><ulink url="http://code.enthought.com/traits/">Enthought traits</ulink> </para></listitem></itemizedlist></section></article>