Python Resources

Updated on Aug 4 2024

• Official Documentation
• Turtle Graphics Docs
  
• SideFX Python Documents
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• Resources
  
• Python in Houdini
  Python and Turtle Graphics
• Intro to Programming
• Python Class Notes (160)
  
• Python Class Notes (705)
  
• 
  
• Python in Other Contexts (Tkinter, PyOpenGL, PIL)
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• Examples
• Python file manipulation
  Python in Houdini Examples
  
• _________________________

copyright © Deborah R. Fowler

Deborah R. Fowler

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Resources for Python

Updated on July 18  2014
Updated on January 5  2025

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If you are new to programming see Introduction to Programming

To install:

• download from https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/



• previous video instruction for 3.8.4Windows x86-64 executable installer
• previous video instruction for 3.6.8 Windows x86-64 executable installer
• note that python 2.7 installed in C:\Python27 however 3.13 (3.8 and up) will install in C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python313
• to change your environment path variable on Windows for Python 3 add it to your path variable (video instructions below)



• click for full instruction on Windows/Mac/Linux to install the PIL (python imaging library, now Pillow)
  

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IDLE - is one of the easiest ways in interface with python. It comes installed with python on Windows. On my linux laptop I "yum installed" by using the following command

        yum install python3-tools

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Sites: The best starting places for learning Python are:

• the documentation. This official site has lots of wonderful information, be sure to select your version
  
• Why you should use python 3 https://wiki.python.org/moin/Python2orPython3
• and within Houdini, sidefx python documentation
• as well as https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/hom/intro.html
• class 8, exercise 4 and https://deborahrfowler.com/PythonResources/PythonInHoudini.html
  
• www.openbookproject.net/thinkcs/python/english2e/
• an interactive version similar to the above at https://runestone.academy/runestone/books/published/thinkcspy/index.html

Also recommended are

• tutorialspoint on Python (Thanks Kristen!)
• Think Python (on-line) by Allen Downey- note that the section on turtle graphics is not the same as the we are using, however the algorithms are valid and the code is very similar
• www.upriss.org.uk/python/PythonCourse.html
• http://inventwithpython.com/IYOCGwP_book1.pdf
  
• File I/O https://www.pythonforbeginners.com/cheatsheet/python-file-handling/

For a brief introduction to OOP:  http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/python-tutorials/python-from-scratch-object-oriented-programming/

In addition Professor Malcolm Kesson has information on Python at www.fundza.com
Kenneth Huff has extensive references and some wonderful gems on his site including:

• Nick Parlante has created codingbat.com, a site with on-line exercises for Python (and Java)

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Books

Online: The two listed at the top of this page.

• https://runestone.academy/runestone/books/published/thinkcspy/index.html
• www.openbookproject.net/thinkcs/python/english2e/

Others that are excellent:

• Learning Python by Mark Lutz

Two textbooks are geared toward game students, but are good introductions:

• Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner by Michael Dawson
• More Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner by Jonathon S. Harbour (may be available on Safari books, SCAD library)

The first book listed is written by the same author that has written an excellent textbook for C++ ( previously used in ITGM 315).

Two books that are interesting when using Python in other contexts (may be available at Safari Books Online) are:

• Python for Kids (turtle and Tkinter)
• More Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner (pygame) and is listed above
  

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