What is the best way to learn Python?

Question

I have written software in C for embedded processors. Raspberry Pi uses Python, so what is the best way to learn it? What is the best book? What about a web based tutorial?

C has a standard core and suppliers of compilers add functions. Is Python similar, do I need to learn the Raspberry Pi version?

Thanks, Peter

LenReinhart · Answer

If you haven't found it yet, http://www.themagpi.com/ is a free magazine about all things RPi. There are many projects in python as well as other languages. All the issues are available for download. There are 30 issues now plus some specials.

Python is a high level language and it allows fast problem solving. If it turns out that the problem needs more speed, there are linkages to "C" so the low level stuff can go fast.

I took a free course taught by the Google self driving car guy from https://www.coursera.org/ The course was great, but I don't think a complete python novice would appreciate it (unless fairly fluent in some other languages). There are other courses that are a bit more basic.

royleith · Answer

I suggest 'Learning Python' by Mark Lutz and David Ascher and published by O'Reilly as it often explains the Python way of dealing with c programming tasks. There are lots of examples and exercises (with solutions). Once you get to grips with the Python objects, the very best resource is the wonderful,

https://www.python.org/

In fact, browse the site, first, and see if the downloads and on-line references, tutorials and other documentation are enough to get you going. Once you get functions, strings, tuples, lists, classes, dictionaries and the like, the documentation should make lots of sense.

Imports are to Python as includes are to c. Python imports are modules which add functionality, but most of the ones you want are included by default when Python is installed (by default in the Pi). The Pi also has the IDLE IDE installed for both the current Python 2.7 (widely used across many platforms) and Python 3 (the future). I have written Python programs on the Pi which access the command line, use COM ports and the Tkinter GUI module and they run with minor changes on Microsoft Windows by installing the same modules.

As Michael says, you can program in most languages using the Pi. However, Python on the Raspberry Pi comes as standard with a module to access the GPIO features (although the more complex issues such as I2C, serial and PWM have yet to be added). The Broadcom chip is complex and many of its features are entwined with the Linux operating system. It may not be that straight forward to use every GPIO feature. Also, the Pi2 puts its control and read registers at different addresses. The joy of using the Python modules is that the ins and outs of Linux and Broadcom are already sorted. There are plenty of examples of PWM and I2C programs written in Python just using the simple I/O pins rather than the dedicated Broadcom pins. However, C would be the way to go if you want precise time dependant programming as Python is interpreted and has the occasional mid-program tidy-up. Even pre-compiled Python may be a problem.

I just checked with the Synaptic Package Manager and GCC is already installed in the Pi. Java is in the repository as is Fortran, Ada, Objective C, C++, Cobol... you get the idea! There are lots of others such as Ruby and Forth. However, if you want to use c or c++ you will have to do a fair amount of research to drive the GPIO hardware to the full without killing the operating system. All the usual OS stuff is available to C and C++.

What is the best way to learn Python?

Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python