Learning Python FOURTH EDITION Learning Python Mark Lutz Beijing • Cambridge • Farnham • Köln • Sebastopol • Taipei • Tokyo Learning Python, Fourth Edition by Mark Lutz Copyright © 2009 Mark Lutz. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Published by O’Reilly Media, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472. O’Reilly books may be purchased for educational, business, or sales promotional use. Online editions are also available for most titles (http://my.safaribooksonline.com). For more information, contact our corporate/institutional sales department: (800) 998-9938 or
[email protected] Editor: Julie Steele Production Editor: Sumita Mukherji Copyeditor: Rachel Head Production Services: Newgen North America Indexer: John Bickelhaupt Cover Designer: Karen Montgomery Interior Designer: David Futato Illustrator: Robert Romano Printing History: March 1999: December 2003: October 2007: September 2009: First Edition. Second Edition. Third Edition. Fourth Edition. Nutshell Handbook, the Nutshell Handbook logo, and the O’Reilly logo are registered trademarks of O’Reilly Media, Inc. Learning Python, the image of a wood rat, and related trade dress are trademarks of O’Reilly Media, Inc. Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and O’Reilly Media, Inc., was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in caps or initial caps. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. ISBN: 978-0-596-15806-4 [M] 1280724660 [8/10] To Vera. You are my life. Table of Contents Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxxi Part I. Getting Started 1. A Python Q&A Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Why Do People Use Python? Software Quality Developer Product