Python Programming with the Java Class Libraries: A Tutorial for Building Web and Enterprise Applications

Rating:
Summary: Very rough, distracting code samples but still worth a look
Review: I've been banging around in this book for a few days now and feel compelled to let the potential buyers know a couple things if they are considering this book:

1) The code samples are atrocious but well documented. The indenting got fouled up on many of the soucrce code samples (typestting problem?) so as to confuse a python/jython novice like me. The author will occassionally show you a bit of source code and then show you output from the execution of what is clearly a different source file. This is very distracting and if I didn't already have some inkling of how Jython works I'd really have a hard time with this book. Sure seems a shame becuase the explanations of the source code are more complete than you'll find an a typical intro book and this is really very helpful in tracking down the author's/typsetters errors and getting the reader REALLY familiar with the inner workings of Jython. The Sample files on the author's website do help clear up the code errors in most cases.

2) Bear in mind that the author goes out of his way to familiarize you with the basics of Python, so he can get to the Java integration. For this reason the reader is really getting an introduction to Jython. This is ok since the author points this out in the opening of the book and guides you to pertinant sections if you have experience with Python, C++, Java or OOAD in general.

Had I to do it over again I probably would wait for a second edition with the code errors corrected. But if you really need a good low level intro to Python, this book, warts and all, has been more valuable than other titles that introduce the language. I attribute this to the really detailed 'plain english' explanations of the code.

To be fair I can't comment on the Java integration portions (the sample code or the writing) as I'm just finishing chapter 6, so I'm still learning about jython itself).

Rating:
Summary: I use this book as a reference
Review: Not only did I write this book. I also use it for a reference.
I find it quite handy.

Rating:
Summary: Straightforward, reader accessible text
Review: Python Programming With The Java Class Libraries: A Tutorial For Building Web And Enterprise Applications With Python by Richard Hightower (CTO at Trivera Technologies) is a practical and completely user-friendly guide to teaching yourself to combine Python programming language with the more widely-used Java. This "user friendly" tutorial covers everything from Java and Python basics to advanced topics such as using Python and Java Swing to create GUI's, working with SQL and JDBC, applets for Python and Java, and much more. Step-by-step instructions, countless examples, and straightforward, reader accessible text makes Python Programming With The Java Class Libraries a superb and highly recommended resource for Python and Java programmers from all experience levels and backgrounds.

Rating:
Summary: Not a bad book for a Jython kick-start
Review: This book focuses heavily on demonstrating key concepts with the Jython interactive interpreter. While this method is not entirely without its drawbacks, it has the distinct benefit of letting you try out code one line or block at a time (which is one of my favorite benefits of Python in general).

Some books are noted for their depth, others for correctness, some for the range of concepts introduced, etc. And of these, I'd say that this book demonstrates the absolute basics of a wide range of Jython areas better than anything else I've read so far. It's the sort of book you can pick up, open to the middle of, and start coding quickly (assuming your system is set up properly, of course).

While there is room for improvement in future editions, this seems like a good first edition.