Articles Index
A Guide to Text vs Data in Python 3.0
The difference between text and data is critical for programming in Python 3.0. Understanding this all-pervasive difference and how it relates to your programming will save you a lot of debugging time.
Python-Powered Port Scanner
Port scanning is a valuable facility for network programming as well as security testing for your network. Here is how to build a port scanner in Python.
Transitioning from 2.x to 3.0
With the release of Python 3.0, the number of projects that are built on a 3.x interpreter and that break compatibility with the 2.x series and before will only increase. The points of incompatiblity vary in importance, but your 2.x coding style is almost guaranteed to be incompatible on some level. Here is a series of helps to ease your transition into the world of Python 3.0.
"Hello, World!": A Quick Tutorial on Python
The purpose of this Hello World tutorial is to take a simple program and build upon it to illustrate the various elements of the Python language.
"Hello, World!" in Python With Tkinter
Most every modern application has a graphic user interface (GUI). For Python, Tkinter is the most commonly available graphic interface toolkit simply because it comes with every installation of Python. This introduction shows how to say "Hello, World!" with Tkinter.
Building a Whitelist for a Spam Filter
Training a spam filter can take a good deal of time and effort. Use an email whitelist to jumpstart the spam filter process. Here's how to create a whitelist of good email addresses for your spam filter.
Backup Your Gmail With poplib
Getting your Google mail through POP3 is easy with Python's poplib library. Here is how to use getpass and poplib to script your Gmail retrieval and to make a local backup of your mailbox.
Beginning Python: Controlling the Flow
This tutorial is part of a series on the fundamentals of Python. It covers the control tools used in Python. If you are new to Python, this tutorial is for you. If you are new to programming, you should do fine with these tutorials. If you are completely new to computers, you may want to read through the tutorial "How A Computer Looks at Your Program".
Beginning Python: Data Types
This beginning tutorial is part of a series for learning the fundamentals of Python. It covers the data types used in Python.
Executing a Python Program: Shell or File?
Programming is pointless if you cannot run, or execute, the program you write. Executing a Python program tells the Python interpreter to convert the Python program into something the computer can read and act upon. There are two ways to do this: using a Python shell and calling the Python interpreter with a "bang" line. The how-to's of both are addressed here.
Retrieving POP3 Email with poplib
Getting your mail through POP3 is easy with Python's poplib library. Here is how to use getpass and poplib to script your mail retrieval and to make a local backup of your mailbox.
Using poplib to Access a POP3 Mail Server
Whether you are coding for the Web, the desktop, or for handheld communication devices (PDAs, smartphones, etc.), being able to collect email is an important part of network programming. Here is how to use the poplib module to access a remote POP3 mailbox.
Using File Descriptors in Python's os Module
Python's os module handles much of the language's portability with respect to the local operating system. Here is how to do cross-platform system programming with Python.
Process Manipulation With Python's os Module
Python's os module provides a convenient interface for many system-level operations. This overview of the module shows how to interact dynamically with the operating system and runtime environment of the Python interpreter.
An Introduction to Programming wxPython
Only so much can happen at the command line. Most every modern application has a graphic user interface (GUI). For Python, wxPython is the most mature, cross-platform graphic interface available. This introduction shows how to say "Hello, World!" with a GUI.
Testing CGI With Python
Testing CGI scripts can be a tedious task, especially when you do not know the environmental variables under which you are programming. Here is a simple script that gives you the information you need.
Programming Secure Web Applications in Python
Programming for security is an imperative for the web programmer. Any sloppy coding can be exploited and amount to significant financial and personal losses. Here are some tips on programming Python securely.
Building an FTP Client in Python
FTP is a critical protocol for a host of networking solutions. Here is how to use Python's ftplib module to interact with FTP servers over an open connection.
"Merry Christmas!": A Quick Tour of Python
The purpose of this tutorial is to take a simple program and build upon it in silly ways to illustrate the various elements of the Python language. You would never write a program like this in real life (except to illustrate a programming language on About.com), but you certainly will use the concepts illustrated here in 90% of the programs you write. If you find this tutorial hard to follow, I encourage you to read "Beginning Python" instead.
Peer-to-Peer Networking: An Overview
One of the more avant-garde forms of network programming is peer-to-peer networking. Here is an introduction to what peer-to-peer entails and what it looks like in general terms.
Building a Simple Web Server in Python
Web servers are an invaluable part of the Internet. But sometimes Apache is over the top for a web service solution. Sometimes all you need is a little program to deliver data upon request. Here is how to build one with Python's socket module.
What is Python?
This series of pages discusses what Python is, why one would want to use it, and how it differs from other programming languages.
Building a Web Client in Python
Network programming is not Python voodoo when you understand the basics of clients and servers. Here is how to build a basic web client in Python.
Beginning Python: Putting It All Together With Syntax
This tutorial is part of a series on the fundamentals of Python. It covers the syntax used in Python programming. If you are new to Python, this tutorial is for you. If you are completely new to programming but have been using a computer for a little while, you should do fine with these tutorials. If you are completely new to computers, you may want to read through the tutorial "How A Computer Looks at Your Program".
Reading from a MySQL Database With Python
Python comes with "batteries included", as the saying goes. This reference to the Python library also suggests the secret to Python programming in general. It is also the basis for any database management you want to do. Python modules exist for every major database format. Here we look at the more common ones.