up vote 0 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

I have no programming background, none at all. I don't know C/C++, Java, PHP, JS... absolutely none. But I am starting out like this: Linux > Python > Shell Scripting > PHP. Does this look good?

Okay, since I am basically starting with Python in programming, I would need the most basic, and yet authoritative book to learn. Please suggest me a good book or two.

EDIT: And should I learn Python 2.x or 3.x?

link|improve this question
feedback

closed as off topic by ErikA, Ward, Zoredache, Mark Henderson♦ Jul 6 '11 at 22:51

Questions on Server Fault are expected to generally relate to servers, networking, or desktop infrastructure, within the scope defined in the faq.

2 Answers

up vote 0 down vote

If you are looking at sysadmin stuff specifically see Python for Unix and Linux System Administration. Learning Python is a pretty good book for a general starting point.

As far as your progression, shell scripting really isn't a single thing to learn. You will be able to do some shell tasks in python, and you will need to learn some as you are learning Linux. See the python sysadmin book for how to use Python for this.

link|improve this answer
But, which should I learn? I see two stable versions of Python - - v2.7.2 and v3.2. I mean, should I get into Python 3 already, or start with Python 2.x and progress into Python 3 later on? – user88753 Jul 6 '11 at 22:49
If you have no programming background it probably doesn't matter at all. The 2.x series may be the better choice simply because there is far more pre-existing sample code and documentation that you can look at. See the answer in the python wiki. wiki.python.org/moin/Python2orPython3 – Zoredache Jul 6 '11 at 22:55
Yep. Just read that. Looks like I should go with v2.7.x – user88753 Jul 6 '11 at 22:57
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

Learn Python The Hard Way is from the legendary Zed Shaw. It's free to read online, and $3.00 download.

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/ - online html version

link|improve this answer
Is it really good for starters? How far does it take me as far as my Python knowledge is concerned? (starter to intermediate or starter to pro?) – user88753 Jul 6 '11 at 22:54
feedback