python resources

getting and installing python

Python is installed by default on any Unix/Linux machine. For OS-X I recommend the pythonmac package over the stock python installation. A windows implementation can be found on the python website

the executive summary

What is Python. By Guido van Rossum.

quick introductions

Instant Python.

free python tutorials/books

The official python tutorial.
Dive Into Python.

my favorite python books

Learning Python.
Core Python.

packages

NumPy: a package for scientific computing in python; includes powerful array objects and linear algebra functions.
Matplotlib: a plotting library with a matlab-like interface.
Biopython: a collection of bioinformatics tools.

odds and ends

A comparison of python and java.
The python paradox.
Why people like python