Introduction.................................................................. 1

About This Book...............................................................................................1

Foolish Assumptions........................................................................................2

Icons Used in This Book..................................................................................3

Beyond the Book..............................................................................................3

Where to Go from Here....................................................................................4

Part I: Getting Started with Python................................ 5

Chapter 1: Talking to Your Computer. 7

Understanding Why You Want to Talk to Your Computer..........................7

Knowing that an Application is a Form of Communication........................9

Thinking about procedures you use daily...........................................9

Writing procedures down....................................................................10

Seeing applications as being like any other procedure...................11

Understanding that computers take things literally........................11

Defining What an Application Is...................................................................12

Understanding that computers use a special language...................12

Helping humans speak to the computer............................................13

Understanding Why Python is So Cool........................................................14

Unearthing the reasons for using Python..........................................15

Deciding how you can personally benefit from Python...................16

Discovering which organizations use Python...................................17

Finding useful Python applications....................................................18

Comparing Python to other languages..............................................18

Chapter 2: Getting Your Own Copy of Python. 21

Downloading the Version You Need............................................................21

Installing Python.............................................................................................24

Working with Windows........................................................................25

Working with the Mac..........................................................................27

Working with Linux...............................................................................29

Accessing Python on Your Machine............................................................32

Using Windows......................................................................................32

Using the Mac........................................................................................35

Using Linux............................................................................................36

Testing Your Installation...............................................................................36