Hacker News Reader

Comment by peruvian | Hacker News Reader

Apologies for changing the subject, but aside from real world experience (which I have and am getting at work), is there a resource of similar quality for more intermediate/advanced Python programmers? I always feel like there's a big chunk of the language or stdlib I do not know.

View on HN

I learned Python starting with 1.5.2 from the official documentation and think it's a good resource.

https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html

https://docs.python.org/3/library/index.html

Whenever a new version is released, I read its What's New documentation.

Beyond that, I like to read source code, both for the stdlib and popular third-party packages. This advice generally applies when I'm learning any new language or re-familiarizing myself with one, not just Python.

I really enjoyed Fluent Python a while back as an intermediate book.

Python official docs are not completely horrible, but compared to most other popular languages (Kotlin, Scala, Rust, Go at least), the Python official docs are kind of meh.

I suppose Python docs beat C and C++ which do not have official docs besides the spec. (not counting K&R and Bjarne's books).

Also I guess Javascript does not have official docs (ie MDN is not official)

I enjoyed Effective Python. It's a "tips" style book with a good handful of recommendations with use cases and applications.

Fluent Python is good book at that level, and works as a good reference book while working too.

I have bought this book for every friend learning python for work purposes, really fleshes a lot out that's not taught implicitly. The data model stuff is really useful.

I like https://effectivepython.com/

Also just reading Norvig’s annual Advent of Code implementations usually provides some insight on how to write elegant and concise Python code.

Looks like there's a new edition coming in March. https://www.amazon.com/Effective-Python-Specific-Software-De...

Fluent Python and Effective Python are good books. The former is huge and is really multiple books in one.

It’s a bit older, but I learned a lot from “Writing idiomatic Python”. Honorable mention to “the little book of Python antipatterns” as well.

Links for anyone else interested as I was

https://jeffknupp.com/writing-idiomatic-python-ebook/

https://docs.quantifiedcode.com/python-anti-patterns/

Humble Bundle had some nice collections on Python for many uses. For in general, I remember that Serious Python and Automate the Boring Stuff with Python were both good.

Python Modules of the Week (PYMOTW). Great resource to learn the stdlib.

https://pymotw.com/3/

+1 for Fluent Python. See also:

* Serious Python (https://nostarch.com/seriouspython) — deployment, scalability, testing, and more

* Practices of the Python Pro (https://www.manning.com/books/practices-of-the-python-pro) — learn to design professional-level, clean, easily maintainable software at scale, includes examples for software development best practices

* Intuitive Python (https://pragprog.com/titles/dmpython/intuitive-python/) — productive development for projects that last

* Advanced Python Mastery (https://github.com/dabeaz-course/python-mastery) — exercise-driven course on Advanced Python Programming that was battle-tested several hundred times on the corporate-training circuit for more than a decade

Author of Practices of the Python Pro here—thank you for recommending my book! I'd also recommend any of David Beazley's books.

Reading the docs proactively (not just when you need something).

Reply on news.ycombinator.com