This book is intended to be a concise reference to the Python programming language.
Although an experienced programmer will probably be able to learn Python from this
book, it’s not intended to be an extended tutorial or a treatise on how to program.
Rather, the goal is to present the core Python language, and the most essential parts of
the Python library in a manner that’s accurate and concise.This book assumes that the
reader has prior programming experience with Python or another language such as C
or Java. In addition, a general familiarity with systems programming topics (for example,
basic operating system concepts and network programming) may be useful in understanding
certain parts of the library reference.
Python is freely available for download at http://www.python.org.Versions are available
for almost every operating system, including UNIX,Windows, and Macintosh. In
addition, the Python website includes links to documentation, how-to guides, and a
wide assortment of third-party software.