Python for C++ Developers [closed]

I'm a long time C++/Java developer trying to get into Python and am looking for the stereotypical "Python for C++ Developers" article, but coming up blank. I've seen these sort of things for C#, Java, etc, and they're incredibly useful for getting up to speed on language features and noteworthy differences. Anyone have any references?

As a secondary bonus question, what open source Python program would you suggest looking at for clean design, commenting, and use of the language as a point of reference for study?

Thanks in advance.

Solution 1:

I never really understood the "Language X for Language Y developers" approach. When I go looking to learn Language X I want to learn how to program in it the way that Language X programmers do, not the way Language Y programmers do. I want to learn the features, idioms, etc. that are unique to the language that I am learning. I want to be able to take advantage of the things that make the language special and use that knowledge to expand my ways of thinking and solving problems. I don't think I would get the same sort of insights from a tutorial that was framed in the context of another language. If you can learn your first language without a tutorial geared towards something you already know you should be able to pick up a second language the same way (and in my experience, the more languages you know the easier it is to learn new ones).

With that said, I would recommend The Python Tutorial as a good, quick, and easy way to get going with Python and Dive Into Python as a more complete introduction, also available for free here. I would also agree with what others have said regarding looking at the code for the standard libraries as a source of good examples and design practices, the standard python libraries are pretty clean and easy to read.

Solution 2:

Dive Into Python is a Python book for experienced programmers.

Solution 3:

Dive Into Python is great, but don't forget PJE's Python Is Not Java.

Solution 4:

I learned a lot about Python by reading the source of the standard library that ships with Python. I seem to remember having a few "a-ha!" moments when reading urllib2.py in particular.