Python Resources
To learn python, you can draw entirely from online resources, of which some of the most useful (especially in a bioinformatics context) are listed below.
There was an excellent bioinformatics tutorial in python both as PDF or HTML, provided by Schuerer/Letondal from Pasteur institute:
Python course in Bioinformatics
General
Python's first and official address is python.org. Start with the tutorial.
- The Official Python Tutorial
- The Python Wiki
- The Official Python Documentation
- How to Think Like a Computer Scientist - Learning with Python
Specific look-up references
Use these resources as a reference tool in order to look up single commands/techniques. The Python 2.5 Quick reference might be very useful when sitting on the computer and actually doing some programming.
- Always try Google first! Example: "python sort list"
- Python 2.5 Quick reference
- Python Library Reference
Extensions
- SourceForge.net: MySQLdb User's Guide
- Regular Expression HOWTO
- Biopython.org - Main page
- Python Frequently Asked Questions v2.7.1
- AiLab's Orange package
- Numerical Python (NumPy)
- Scientific Python (SciPy)
- Python Imaging Library (PIL)
Development Environments
We will mainly use emacs. Most instructions will be geared towards this editor, also called the swiss army knife of editors. It runs on Windows, Linux and Mac. A short intro, using Python within Emacs and the official Emacs Editor description.
For windows users at home, there are (at least) two more choices: IDLE - an Integrated DeveLopment Environment for Python (easy, straightforward, no frills) Or, more advanced, try PythonWin which even has automatic command completion: <<<<IMAGE HERE>>>>
Web Stuff
