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If you already know Perl but want to learn all about Python then this is the book for you. Starting the basic mechnical and semantic differences of the language and moving on to the specific differences between the two popular programming environments. The book includes full details on Perl functions and many of the standard and extension modules and their equivalents in Python. You'll learn how to use Python for web applications, networking, basic text processing (including regular expressions) and file and system management. We also look at how to migrate your Tk applications from Perl to Python. Perl to Python Migration is in the final stages of production, but look out for updates and followups on this site in the future.

Amazon US | UK fatbrain (US)

Python: The Complete Reference is a complete guide to the Python language. As well as covering the basic mechanics of the language and how to write Python applications. We also look at the modules in the standard Python library and how to apply them, how to use Python for user interface and Web development, using Python as a RAD tool and the issues surrounding cros platform development with the Python language In addition you get all the information you need on how Python works internally, how to debug and optimize your Python scripts, how to write good documentation and usie the Python documentation tools. If you are still hungry for more information you'll also find details on how to extend and embed Python using C/C++. Python: The Complete Reference is still in production, Stay peeled for more information.

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CD-Recordable Solutions looks at all aspects of CD recording for Unix/Linux, Mac OS and Windows users. We look at everything from the basics of the CD recording process, choosing the right drive for your machine and on to the more complex issues of developing file/directory layouts, cross platform compatibility and copyright and business issues. Special attention is also given when writing specific types of CDs so you can develop image libraries, audio CDs (including MP3 and standard CD compilations) and archive and installation CDs with ease. For cross reference, the last section of the book looks at the software available for writing information on all three platforms. Get more information on CD Recordable Solutions

the iMac FYI title continues to get very favourable reviews with the latest from iMac HQ. It's been given 5-stars by iMac HQ, and Applelinks.com called in an excellent stocking filler, so get your orders in now!. You can read all of the reports using the links below:

Applelinks.com
Macsonly.com
ThinkMacintosh
iMac HQ

Alternatively, get more information on iMac FYI.

The next step on the road to migrating from Perl to Python is to understand how Python stores the basic data types. The first data type is the number, and Python, as you might imagine, uses objects. But as well as storing ordinary integers and floating-point values, Python has some other tricks up it's sleeve...

You can go right ahead and read the article, Perl to Python, Numeric Objects, or better still, just go and visit Linux Programming.

In the previous article we looked at using SSI, Server Side Includes, as a way of building up a page for your site, even with some quasi-dynamic content. However, it's inevitable that some part of your site is completely dynamically generated from within Perl or Python, and in those situations you need to be able to reproduce those SSI templates from within your scripts to build up your page. This is what we cover in the next E-Commerce Solutions article.

You can go right ahead and read the article, E-Commerce Solutions: Template Driven Pages, Part 2, or better still, just go and visit Apache Today.

On Friday, 8th September, two versions of Python were released. Python 1.6 from CNRI, the company that Guido van Rossum (Python's creator) used to work for. Within a few hours, BeOpen, the new home of Python and Guido, had released Python 2.0b1, the first step on the way to the next big revision of the Python language. I've written an article over on LinuxProgramming that looks at the differences between the two versions, and some ideas of what we can expect in the future.

You can go right ahead and read the article, Python 1.6 or 2.0, or better still, just go and visit Linux Programming.

The next article in my look at migrating applications from Perl to Python starts the look at variables which in Python are really objects. The first article on the path to variables looks at the basic variable types in each language, and how they relate to each other. We also take a look at how Python variables are actually just aliases for objects, rather than being real variables, which makes developing with Python like using references for all your Perl variables. Finally, we start to look at operators in Python, and how the same operator can be used to perform the same operation on a variety of objects.

You can go right ahead and read the article, Migrating from Perl to Python: Objects and Operators, or better still, just go and visit Linux Programming.

I've produced a new version of the C source and Makefile required to build a C application that embeds a Perl interpreter, first featured in my Visual C Developer's Journal. You can read about the changes and download the update by visiting the Embedding Perl Update page.

Moving on from the introductory article, we start to look at Python properly and learn the core differences between the Perl and Python languages, including the object-oriented approach, reusable module system, and the different module import and namespace semantics.

You can go right ahead and read the article, Migrating from Perl to Python: Objects and Operators, or better still, just go and visit Linux Programming.

I've updated the errata for the Perl Complete Reference. All are script fixes. Use the side panel to download the latest version fof the scripts from the Perl The Complete Reference title

The follow-up to the introductory looks at the core of all web sites - the production and design of a page that incorporates repetitive elements using template pages. This article concentrates on using Server Side Includes (SSI) supported by Apache for developing your sites. As well as the technical aspects, the article looks at how to divide up your page so that it can be used effectively with a template driven page.

You can go right ahead and read the article, E-Commerce Solutions, Template-Driven Pages, or better still, just go and visit Apache Today.

The first in a new series of articles looking at the differences, and how to migrate from using Perl for programming to using Python. The first article checks out the main architectural and philosophical differences between the two languages. In future articles I'll be looking at the basic mechanics of the two languages, and at how to turn your Perl scripts into Python scripts using a combination of straight conversions and the Python specific features.

You can go right ahead and read the article, Migrating from Perl to Python, or better still, just go and visit Linux Programming.

My new book, iMac FYI, has just started to hit the store order books. Acompletely different animal to any of my previous books, this one provides a question and answer approach to using your iMac. Using a combination of my own questions, those posed to me by clients, and some taken from the general public the book covers most of the frequently asked questions from new and existing users of the iMac and iBook. There are even tips that will be useful to general Mac users.

Get all the information on iMac FYI.

The first of a series of articles looking at the problems (and solutions) for E-Commerce websites. Although I'll be looking at the use of Apache technologies in combination with the likes of Perl, Python and Java, most of the principles could be applied to any web server combination.

The first article, looks at the main topics I'll be covering, although further tools and topics will be added as the series progresses. The series is bi-weekly, and new articles will be highlighted on this site.

You can go right ahead and read the article, E-Commerce Solutions, or better still, just go and visit Apache Today.

My latest article, which covers embedding Perl into Visual C projects has just been published in the Visaul C Developer's Journal (http://www.vcdj.com).The article looks at the issues surrounding the embedding of Perl, the basics of communication between the Perl interpreter and your Visual C projects, and how to compile the final project into an application.

A few readers have noticed some problems with a couple of the scripts in Perl Annotated Archives. The problems are fairly minor, but should be brought to the attention of all my other readers.
The first problem is in Chapter 1 and relates to the weblog.pl script for analyzing standard web server log files. The second update is to the chlinks.pl script in Chapter 7.

Thanks to Joakim Marner and David Smith for letting me know about these problems.

You can download the updated versions of these two scripts below:

Download: PC - Unix - Mac
Note that this is an update, and only contains these two scripts.

If you spot any more bugs, problems, or improvements, use the Book Errata form.

Get all the information on Perl Annotated Archives here.
See the other downloads for Perl Annotated Archiveshere.

Python Annotated Archives is another book from the best selling Annotated Archives series. The Python Annotated Archives books look at solutions to problems by examining real Python scripts and examining the semantics of each script at a line by line level. This book includes details on all aspects of the Python programming process from simple utilitiy scripts through networking, email and web development. Special attention is given to application development, both at a fundamental level, and at a user interface level using the Tk widget libraries.

Get the details on the the book here.

Download the scripts: PC - Unix - Mac

At last - the perfect desktop companion to Perl: The Complete Reference. Split into 6 sections it includes the basics (syntax, variables, functions, references, regular expressions, formats and POD document formats), a complete functional reference, comprehensive guide to the Perl standard library, a suite of example scripts, information on using Perl on the command line, threads, the Perl Compiler and the Perl debugger.

Get all the information on the book here.

Downloads the scripts: PC - Unix - Mac

After a couple of false starts and delays, the code from the Perl: The Complete Reference is finally available for download. Apologies to all the people who came here looking for it, but couldn't find it. I wont go into detail, but basically I've been busy :)

You can get more details on the book contents here.

Please use the links below to download the information - three different files are available, one for each platform. All are identical aside from the file and archive formats.

Downloads the scripts: PC - Unix - Mac

You can now download a PDF of Chapter 4 of the Perl Annotated Archives book online. Chapter 4 covers the use of different database systems for managing information in Perl. Sytstems covered include DBM, SQL sources and ODBC sources, and full examples and scripts are given. This is a full, unabridged chapter, available free!. You can download the scripts from the book here, or only the scripts from Chapter 4 here.

Over the past few months a number of the scripts and the support files that go with them for the Perl Annotated Archives title have been updated with bug fixes and additions. The main chapters affected are Chapter 3, which has a new definitions dictionary available for download; and Chapter 8, where some improvements and updates have been made to webnews.pl. This web news script is turning out to be one of the most popular, so if you have any further comments, use the Book Errata form.

Perl: The Complete Reference and Perl Programmers Reference have just gone into production and should out on the shelves soon. Check out the descriptions on our books page.

The folks over at fatbrain.com have given Perl Annotated Archives and BeOS: Porting Unix Applications glowing reviews. Use the links the below to check out the review of each book:

Read the review of Perl Annotated Archives on fatbrain.com

Read the review of BeOS: Porting Unix Applications on fatbrain.com

Perl Annotated Archives has just been formally released. Rather than teaching you how to program in Perl by taking you through the rules, regulations and semantics of the Perl language, Perl AA uses existing scripts and modules to demonstrate different features of the Perl language. In each case, you are taken through the scripts, line by line, covering the semantics of the language and the algorithms used to achieve the desired result. The book follows on from the successful JavaScript Annotated Archives, also from McGraw-Hill.

You can find out more information on the book, including the latest versions of the scripts and support material used here.

Most recent first:

• Scripts from Perl: The Complete Reference 2ed released.
  
• CD Recordable Solutions on its way - the only guide you'll ever need for writing CDs under Windows, Unix and Mac OS.
  
• Perl: The Complete Reference 2ed released with more 50% of the content updated.
  
• Perl: I Didn't Know You Could Do That makes it to the bookshelves.
  
• New Debugging Perl title providing tips on avoiding, finding and fixing bugs in Perl has gone to the printers.
  
• The latest Perl offering is ActivePerl Developer's Guide.
  
• The new iMac FYI is released, and getting rave reviews.