Ask HN: Getting started with Python for web development | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Getting started with Python for web development

8 pointstuhin7 comments

I am an Interface Designer by profession. Lately I have been trying to teach myself to teach programing language.

The only prior experience I have is a bit of C, just enough Php to get through to make WP themes from scratch and just finished the MIT OCW 6.0 along with the book How to Think Like a Computer Scientist.

Also I know basic MySQL, thanks to my job as an Analyst for over a year.

Now I would like to get started with exposing myself to the part of building apps even if they are the most basic ones. Where should I begin with Web development using Python? (I know Php should have been the logical choice but I am just in love with Python for some reason; seems just right to me than C or Php)

A point to note is that I am highly inclined for Pylons framework over Django because a project on which I want to work on later with other serious/experienced programmers requires it due to its sheer scale. I do not expect to be doing the same level of coding as them but at least I can help them when I am done with the design and UX part of the app.

Should I go for a basic thing like web.py and learn the building blocks or choose Pylons? Please keep in mind my understanding of server side programming, MVC etc is very limited.

I would take a look at Flask. It is great for small applications. Read the quickstart guide (http://flask.pocoo.org/docs/quickstart/#a-minimal-applicatio...). Follow the tutorial for making a blog (http://flask.pocoo.org/docs/tutorial/introduction/).

After that you will know how to do URL routing, rendering views/templates, and making database calls -- the backbones of making a web application.

Django and Pylons will both introduce you to a lot of advanced concepts that I would imagine to be very confusing to someone not familiar with programming. I'd recommend you first learn Python more fully before you start working with a framework. In fact, at this point I would recommend practicing with traditional desktop scripts as opposed to anything on the web, but using CGI may actually be a better choice in getting you down the path you want to go faster.

I'm also an interface designer, wanting to learn Python to make stuff. We're in the same boat! I'm reading Head First Python, a real newbie book. My knowledge just contains HTML and CSS, so I'm really starting from scratch.

Would love to see your progress and learn from it.

@lovskogen

If it makes you feel any better, my knowledge of C and Php is of no real use. Also the entire idea of Frameworks with URL templating, MVC is too irritating when I want to know how and why something is happening.

There has to be a book that teaches it from the perspective of a beginner. Wish someone could answer that.

I read my Python Head First when I got the time. I fiddled around with the IDLE editor, doing some basic lists in sqlite3 and some logic/math on some integers and string.

But I really want to do the WEB stuff. So I've sat myself a goal of posting a web form into a database and then retrieving that info somewhere else, seems like a feasable task.

Actually, you should just do it. The polls tutorial is reply well written, and I am a firm believer that the best way to learn something is by hacking some project out of it. Good luck !

I found this quite handy: http://docs.python.org/howto/webservers.html

I am a cgibin kind of person.

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