QuickTips Index

Getting Login Information With the getpass Module
Accepting login information in plain text is inherently dangerous from the persepctive of computer security. Fortunately, Python has the getpass module which allows the handling of login information without leaving a trace in a system's cache.

Using Lambda Calculus in Python
Lambda calculus can be used to design just about any kind of function you might need. Here is how to use it in lieu of pseudo-code to describe your functions quickly.

Checking URLs and IP Addresses With Python's socket Module
In the Wild World of the Web, checking the DNS entry of a URL or IP address is increasingly necessary. Here is how to do it with the Python socket module

Reading a Single Line from a File With Python
Getting a line from a file is easy with Python. This tip shows you how.

How to Analyze a File Line-By-Line With Python
This tip gives advice on analyzing a file one line at a time. This type of analysis is particularly useful when writing a program that will be run several times simultaneously (e.g., CGI scripts).

Python 2.5's 'with' Statement
One of the new features that was released with Python 2.5 last month is the 'with' statement. For those of you who are used to Python's try...except statement, you may find this to be the biggest boon of upgrading.

Moving Around in a File
If you are familiar with reading a file into memory but still wonder how to move around inside it after that, this ScripTip will help you. Using the code from the earlier tip, this discussion shows how to access all or one record of the dictionary 'record'.

How to Analyze a File All-At-Once Using a Dictionary
This tip gives advice on analyzing one or more files simultaneously using Python's dictionary data types. This type of analysis is useful for local analysis (as opposed to network server usage) when parts of one or more files need to be consulted simultaneously and in rapid succession.

Common Errors Made In Python Programming
This is a list of several common programming errors committed by beginners and advanced alike. If your program is not doing what you think you programmed it to do, if it keeps throwing an error and you do not know why, check this list to see if there is a common error which you are not seeing in your troubleshooting.