Newbie to python 1

[johnv20]

Hi,
after years of mainly using perl as my prmary scripting language I decided to look at python 2 days ago & am very very impressed. Please bear with me as I ask a few newbie questions

Is there a python release that will run under DOS ?

Has anybody any experience of running python under dos? 1 of the main limitations with perl is that it doesn't release memory very well so under dos with the 540k limit you begin to see problems if mutiple scripts run after one another


Can anybody recommend a good FREE windows based editor

Can anyone recommend a good reference book, perferably 1 that lists all the main modules & how to use them

Is there a windows compiler for python, activestate do a very good 1 for perl but I can't see any for python


Thanks

 

[sebsauvage]

Is there a python release that will run under DOS ?

Yes.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/bdeck/pythond.htm

540k limit

I haven't tried, but my guess is that Python is not better than perl on memory usage.
I think the DOS Python version is compiled with a Dos extender, and is not subject to the 640 kb limit.


Can anybody recommend a good FREE windows based editor

I love PSPad.
Free, fast, convenient, good syntax coloring, you can even include the inline Python documentation (PythonShelf).

http://www.pspad.com/index_en.html

Can anyone recommend a good reference book, perferably 1 that lists all the main modules & how to use them

Not easy.
You can always have a look at Python manual, which lists and describes all modules:

http://python.org/doc/current/lib/lib.html

I would also recommend to read the chapter about tuples, lists and dictionnaries in the "Dive into Python" book
(which can be downloaded for free !)

http://diveintopython.org/getting_to_know_python/dictionaries.html

http://diveintopython.org/getting_to_know_python/lists.html

http://diveintopython.org/getting_to_know_python/tuples.html

These datatypes are key Python notions and are used everywhere.
Also spend some time on list comprehension in Python. It's worth studying.


Is there a windows compiler for python, activestate do a very good 1 for perl but I can't see any for python

The standard Python distribution is perfect !

http://python.org/ftp/python/2.3.1/Python-2.3.1.exe

But you can always use the one from ActiveState if you prefer:

http://www.activestate.com/Products/ActivePython/

The ActiveState distribution contains the win32all modules which are not included in the standard distribution (But these modules can be downloaded separately.)
Win32all modules allow access to Windows-specific features (registry, ODBC, etc.)


Note that Python 2.3 introduces 'future' warnings and forced encoding, which can be disconcerting at first.

 

[johnv20]

Oh PSPad is lovely, much better than either PCE or Jedit
which I have been using

 

[Tarwn]

I may have to give PSPad a try, I've been using Editplus

Can't comment no the rest of the questions though, seb did to good a job answering

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The never-completed website:

http://www.tiernok.com/