ShowMeDo Blog

Gasto has created a neat two-part set entitled Python from Zero, as he describes it:

“Have you ever been frustrated with all the compiling process, and wished that it [all] just magically appeared after a pair of seconds of thinking of a feature.  Learn python, you will not regret it. You’ll be surprised how easy it is.”

In two episodes lasting 20 minutes Gasto gives you an introduction to prototyping simple code with Python and the use of lists and sets.

Thanks, it’s easy to understand! I want to know more now !!

These videos are a part of the 330 Python tutorial screencasts in ShowMeDo, many are produced by our open-source users.  Each contributor gets free access to Club ShowMeDo’s extra Python tutorials.

Recent free videos include Making a Django Dev Environment, TurboGears 2, Agile Python Development and Python for Math Education.

Recent Club videos include Python Beginners - Loops and Iteration, Python Beginners - Common Variables and Containers and An Introduction to Database Programming with Python.

Kirby Urner has added a 6th screencast on Python Math in Education, the latest is a presentation from Chicago Pycon 2008.  His series is Python for Math Teachers:

1. Getting Started
2. Looking Ahead
3. Subclassing for Beginners
4. A First Look at RSA
5. Working with Stickworks
6. Chicago Pycon 2008

These videos are a part of the 330 Python tutorial screencasts in ShowMeDo, many are produced by our open-source users.  Each contributor gets free access to Club ShowMeDo’s extra Python tutorials.

Recent free videos include Making a Django Dev Environment, TurboGears 2, Agile Python Development and Python for Math Education.

Recent Club videos include Python Beginners - Loops and Iteration, Python Beginners - Common Variables and Containers and An Introduction to Database Programming with Python.

We have another new Club series aimed at Python Beginner/Intermediate programmers.  Loops and Iteration builds upon the previous recent series (Common Variables and Containers and ‘What Does Python Look Like?‘) to show you the normal looping and iteration techniques that you’ll use in Python.

The first 4 of 7 episodes are published, the other 3 will follow over the coming weeks.  Each episodes is about 5 minutes long, by the end of the series you’ll have seen for and while used with a list, sets, dictionary, range, enumerate, len, raw_input, break, continue and else:

1. Overview (Loops and Iteration) (Free)
2. For on a List
3. For using a range
4. For using enumerate
5. For on a set [forthcoming]
6. For on a dict(ionary) [forthcoming]
7. While loops [forthcoming]

This series is a part of Club ShowMeDo, these videos are for paying subscribers (Club membership is given for free to anyone who submits their own screencast).  The Club screencasts are a part of our 330 Python screencasts, most of which are freely available, created by us and our open-source authors.

Other recent Club videos include Database Programming, Google App Engine and pyWin32.

Recent free videos include Making a Django Dev Environment, TurboGears 2, Agile Python Development and Python for Math Education.

Florian Mayer has posted two useful screencasts.  First he talks about Basic Unit-testing with Python.  In this screencast he shows you the basics of using the unittest module.  The style is a split-screen session so you can see the code and the test-code at the same time.

Secondly Florian talks about Calling functions on a server using XML-RPC.  This is a neat little demo showing you just how easy it is to use the included SimpleXMLRPCServer module.

“Really nice work Florian! I’ve used XMLRPC and it’s a lovely little library - amazingly useful in the right context. In a short time, using intelligently selected examples, you give people all they need to get started.”

There are over 300 Python tutorial screencasts in ShowMedo, many produced by our users.  Each contributor gets free access to Club ShowMeDo’s extra Python tutorials.

Recent free videos include Making a Django Dev Environment, TurboGears 2, Agile Python Development and Python for Math Education.

Recent Club videos include Python Beginners (Variables and Containers), Database Programming, Google App Engine and pyWin32.

I’m rather excited to announce this new and rather long Club ShowMeDo series called Common Variables and Containers.  It is aimed at new/intermediate Python users and builds upon the previous ‘What Does Python Look Like?‘ series.

In 14 episodes I introduce the user to all the common Python datatypes and containers.  This includes showing common usage and explaining newer ways of doing things with Python 2.5 (and linking to examples of out-dated docs so the user is aware of older techniques).

“Excellent tutorial - Well thought out example, clear, with a logical progression that builds on itself. In the end the goal of the tut is attained very well.”

Each episode is 5-10 minutes long, the first seven are published and the rest follow over the coming weeks:

1. Overview (Variables and Containers) (Free)

2. Variables are Objects

3. Variable Scope

4. int and float

5. decimal

6. str(ings)

7. unicode

The aim of the series is to give a visual introduction to all the common datatypes that the user will see when learning Python.  This backs-up the material that can be found on the web and in books - screencasts are great for building up memories of ’seeing it in action’.

This series is a part of Club ShowMeDo, these videos are for paying subscribers (Club membership is given for free to anyone who submits their own screencast).  The Club screencasts are a part of our 311 Python screencasts, most of which are freely available, created by us and our open-source authors.

“Great video, lots of good basic information to help me start learning Python. Easy to watch the videos and then open up an interactive prompt and try out the new features I just learned. I also like the web links for additional details.”

If you want to try the Club, remember that we offer a full refund guarantee if the Club isn’t what you expect and you are free to cancel your subscription at any time.  We want you to feel comfortable whilst trying us out.  We’re always open to feedback and suggestions for the topics you’d like to see us cover.

Other recent Club videos include Database Programming, Google App Engine and pyWin32.

Recent free videos include Making a Django Dev Environment, TurboGears 2, Agile Python Development and Python for Math Education.

percious posts two screencasts showing agile development tools in Python.  In the first he shows VirtualEnv and PasteScript,  VirtualEnv is a ‘virtual Python environment builder’, PasteScript is a ‘pluggable command-line frontend, including commands to setup package file layouts’.

“Very nice. I’ve been meaning to use virtualenv for some of my projects now. Looks very simple to get it up and running. Thanks!”

The second screencast is Using Nosetests and Coverage to create robust software.  These are the sort of tools that help you to create reliable software using thorough (and easy-to-implement!) tests.

“Awesome stuff…pls bring more :o)”

There are over 300 Python tutorial screencasts in ShowMedo, many produced by our users.  Each contributor gets free access to Club ShowMeDo’s extra Python tutorials.

percious has posted a neat 8 minute screencast showing the TurboGears 2 installation process. TG2 is still very much in beta and this screencast helps make the installation process so much easier.

The description reads “This video shows how one might get up and running using TurboGears2. We start by creating a virtual environment (virtualenv) [and easy_install.py] to sandbox our installation and finish up with a working TG2 website.”.

“Nice screencast. I think it was very sensible to include virtualenv setup in the TG2 install screencast. The graphics and effects used are awesome. Congratulations!”

There are over 300 Python tutorial screencasts in ShowMeDo, many produced by our users.  Each contributor gets free access to Club ShowMeDo’s extra Python tutorials.

The recent Python Beginners series named What Does Python Look Like? is finished, all 6 episodes are up.

“Thank you for this resource. I appreciate your efforts to help others.”

Here’s the layout for the series:

1. 3 Minute Oveview (What Does Python Look Like?) (Free)
2. Variables and Naming
3. Write and Run (and Unit Tests), No Compiling
4. Indentation and Colons
5. Loops and Conditions
6. Functions and Classes

This series is a part of Club ShowMeDo, these screencasts are available to paying subscribers  (or for free if you author a video for us).

The club videos form a subset of our 311 Python screencasts, many of the Python screencasts are produced by our open-source authors who like to share their skills.

Other recent Club videos include Database Programming, Google App Engine and pyWin32.