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Python is a programming language which makes it easy to create anything from small, useful tools to full-sized applications. The good news is that Ubuntu has excellent support for Python right out of the box. The great news is that you can get started right away using the advice and sample code in these Python recipes!
The aim of these recipes is to provide examples of useful Python code which you can use to learn more about Python, and to provide code which you can use as building blocks for writing your own software. All of the example code is distributed under a free software license, so you can use it in your own projects.
Getting started with Python
There are hundreds of Python resources available, including many books and online guides. Below is a small selection of what's available:
Python.org - The official Python website
Programming Python - An introduction to Python
Python for Beginners - A beginners' guide to Python
Dive Into Python - An online book intended to help more experienced programmers learn Python
Pygame - An excellent resource for anyone interested in Python game development (pygame is in the Ubuntu software repository).
Graphical applications
Most graphical software in Ubuntu uses GTK, the GIMP ToolKit. Python has excellent support for GTK through the PyGTK bindings.
Hello World! - The simplest graphical application you can write, Hello World is an easy-to-follow example of a graphical application
GTK Basics - Basic information on how GTK works and what all of the technical terms mean
Simple Web Browser - Thanks to the GtkMozEmbed widget, it's easy to write a simple web browser application
MIME Types - You can use the MIME system to find the file type and default application for a file
Packaging and distribution
Once you've written a Python application, you may want to package and distribute it so that other people can use it. These articles show you how.
- Publishing packages on Launchpad using your Personal Package Archive
Documentation, translations and other supporting material
For software to be useful to people, you need more than just code. Documentation and translations are an important part of the user experience.
- Writing man pages
Writing a DocBook user guide
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