References for learning Python

12 Apr 2022 - fubar - Sreekar Guddeti

python-Logo Some of the well curated references for learning Python keeping scientific computing in focus.

What is Python?

Python is a versatile programming language that facilitates variety of programming paradigms like procedural, object-oriented, functional, etc.
It is a high level programming language that has gained acceptance amongst a wide spectrum of users ranging from scientists to data analysts, economists to stock-market players.
As it is an interpreted instead of compiled langu, it offers rapid implementation and testing of ideas.

Python has been well adopted by the scientific community.
While the core of the language is minimalistic, various packages have been built on top of the core, that extend the functionality of the language.
The packages heavily used by the scientific community are numpy, scipy, matplotlib, mayavi.

Due to the popularity of the language, numerous references have proliferated that teach the language.

Python’s standard documentation is the canonical reference for the core features of the language.

Similarly,

provide documentation for the frequently scientific computing packages.

Following are the auxiliary references that complement that standard documentation.

Programming for quantitative economics A jupyter book written by John Strachurshki that introduces Python from the ground up and introduces Python’s syntax, tools and style using quantitative economics as a case-study.
Scientific Visualization: Python + Matplotlib An open access book on scientific visualization using python and matplotlib written by Nicolas Rougier.
Python Self-learning course A self learning course designed by FOSSEE (Free/Libre & Open Source Software for Education) project at IIT Bombay and curated by Prof. Prabhu Ramachandran, the developer of Mayavi.
Spoken tutorial on plotting A convenient way to learn the basics of Python and Matplotlib using plotting as case study.