Operation Manual

Hopefully, this chapter has given you a taste of what you can do with Python. It’s far from exhaustive—to do the language full
justice would take a considerably larger book. However, there are plenty of resources out there for learning more about the
Python language, including the following:
• The official Beginner’s Guide to Python, which you can access at http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide.
• A free, interactive tutorial that runs entirely in your browser is available for download at
http://www.learnpython.org/.
• Zed A. Shaw’s Learn Python The Hard Way (Shavian Publishing, 2012) offers great insight into best-practice coding for
Python, and despite the name, it’s suitable for beginners. This book is commercially available, or you can read it for free at
http://learnpythonthehardway.org/.
• Although somewhat outdated and since replaced by Dive Into Python 3 (APRESS, 2009), Dive Into Python by Mark
Pilgrim (APRESS, 2004) does a good job of addressing the basics of writing programs in Python. It’s available for free
download at http://www.diveintopython.net/ or for purchase in printed format from all good booksellers.
• If you prefer hands-on learning with other interested individuals, a list of local Python User Groups—sometimes called
PIGgies—can be found at http://wiki.python.org/moin/LocalUserGroups.
• For learning pygame, Al Sweigart’s book Making Games with Python & Pygame (CreateSpace, 2012) is a great
introduction with practical examples. You can purchase the hardcopy book or downloaded it for free at
http://inventwithpython.com/.