1 .. _tut-whatnow:

     2 

     3 *********

     4 What Now?

     5 *********

     6 

     7 Reading this tutorial has probably reinforced your interest in using Python ---

     8 you should be eager to apply Python to solving your real-world problems. Where

     9 should you go to learn more?

    10 

    11 This tutorial is part of Python's documentation set.   Some other documents in

    12 the set are:

    13 

    14 * :ref:`library-index`:

    15 

    16   You should browse through this manual, which gives complete (though terse)

    17   reference material about types, functions, and the modules in the standard

    18   library.  The standard Python distribution includes a *lot* of additional code.

    19   There are modules to read Unix mailboxes, retrieve documents via HTTP, generate

    20   random numbers, parse command-line options, write CGI programs, compress data,

    21   and many other tasks. Skimming through the Library Reference will give you an

    22   idea of what's available.

    23 

    24 * :ref:`install-index` explains how to install external modules written by other

    25   Python users.

    26 

    27 * :ref:`reference-index`: A detailed explanation of Python's syntax and

    28   semantics.  It's heavy reading, but is useful as a complete guide to the

    29   language itself.

    30 

    31 More Python resources:

    32 

    33 * http://www.python.org:  The major Python Web site.  It contains code,

    34   documentation, and pointers to Python-related pages around the Web.  This Web

    35   site is mirrored in various places around the world, such as Europe, Japan, and

    36   Australia; a mirror may be faster than the main site, depending on your

    37   geographical location.

    38 

    39 * http://docs.python.org:  Fast access to Python's  documentation.

    40 

    41 * http://pypi.python.org: The Python Package Index, previously also nicknamed

    42   the Cheese Shop, is an index of user-created Python modules that are available

    43   for download.  Once you begin releasing code, you can register it here so that

    44   others can find it.

    45 

    46 * http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Python/Cookbook/: The Python Cookbook is a

    47   sizable collection of code examples, larger modules, and useful scripts.

    48   Particularly notable contributions are collected in a book also titled Python

    49   Cookbook (O'Reilly & Associates, ISBN 0-596-00797-3.)

    50 

    51 For Python-related questions and problem reports, you can post to the newsgroup

    52 :newsgroup:`comp.lang.python`, or send them to the mailing list at

    53 python-list@python.org.  The newsgroup and mailing list are gatewayed, so

    54 messages posted to one will automatically be forwarded to the other.  There are

    55 around 120 postings a day (with peaks up to several hundred), asking (and

    56 answering) questions, suggesting new features, and announcing new modules.

    57 Before posting, be sure to check the list of `Frequently Asked Questions

    58 <http://www.python.org/doc/faq/>`_ (also called the FAQ), or look for it in the

    59 :file:`Misc/` directory of the Python source distribution.  Mailing list

    60 archives are available at http://mail.python.org/pipermail/. The FAQ answers

    61 many of the questions that come up again and again, and may already contain the

    62 solution for your problem.

    63 

    64 .. Postings figure based on average of last six months activity as

    65    reported by www.egroups.com; Jan. 2000 - June 2000: 21272 msgs / 182

    66    days = 116.9 msgs / day and steadily increasing. (XXX up to date figures?) 

    67 

    68