Mark Lutz's Book Support Site Welcome. At this site, you'll find information about Python books I've written, Python training services, Python resources on the net, and a bit about my background. Click on one of the links below to go to the topic you're interested in. I usually update the date at the bottom of this page when I make changes. The book lists below are ordered by publication date as recorded by the publisher; actual release of paper or ebook versions may vary slightly. Python version numbers covered are in square brackets, and rounded page counts include index, table of contents, and preface, which in some books add as much as 70 pages. Unless noted otherwise, all the books here were published by O'Reilly Media (the publisher formerly known as O'Reilly & Associates). As of June, 2013, there are no plans for further editions of any of the books in the Current Publications list below. While it may be premature to label these final editions, I hope they will continue to serve Python 2.X and 3.X users for many years to come. For future Python changes, watch the update pages on this site for the current book editions below, as well as Python's own What's New? documents. For Python's status in general, see both the introduction and conclusion to Learning Python, 5th Edition (Chapters 1 and 41).

Recent Highlights

For a quick index to recent noteworthy posts on this site, see the Recent Highlights Page

Current Publications

• Learning Python, 5th Edition
  A comprehensive tutorial on Python 3.X and 2.X language fundamentals, author, 1560 pages (June, 2013) [3.3 + 2.7]
• Programming Python, 4th Edition
  A Python 3.X-only version of this applications programming tutorial, author, 1630 pages (December, 2010) [3.2]
• Python Pocket Reference, 4th Edition
  A Python 3.X and 2.X reference-only companion to my other two books, author, 210 pages (September, 2009) [3.1 + 2.6]

Older Publications

• Learning Python, 4th Edition
  An in-depth introduction to Python 3.X and 2.X language fundamentals, author, 1210 pages (September, 2009) [3.0 + 2.6]
• Learning Python, 3rd Edition
  An introductory level book on Python fundamentals, author, 750 pages (October, 2007) [2.5]
• Programming Python, 3rd Edition
  A Python applications programming tutorial book, author, 1600 pages (August, 2006) [2.5]
• Python Pocket Reference, 3rd Edition
  A Python reference, fully revised for Python 2.4, author, 160 pages (February, 2005) [2.4]

• Learning Python, 2nd Edition
  An introductory level Python book, co-author, 620 pages (December, 2003) [2.2]
• Python Pocket Reference, 2nd Edition
  A Python reference, fully revised and expanded, author, 130 pages (November, 2001) [2.0]
• Programming Python, 2nd Edition
  A new advanced Python topics book, author, 1300 pages (March, 2001) [2.0]

• Learning Python
  An introductory level Python book I co-authored, 385 pages (April, 1999) [2.0]
• Python Pocket Reference
  A Python quick reference book I wrote, 80 pages (November, 1998) [1.5]
• Programming Python
  A comprehensive book I wrote about Python, 900 pages (October, 1996) [1.3]
• The Macmillan Python chapter
  An overview I wrote for a languages text, 120 pages (Summer 1998, Macmillan)

Other Topics

• Python training services
  I teach live Python classes based on my books at customer sites
• The Python language
  A remarkable object-oriented scripting/programming language
• About me
  Professional background information
• What's (not) new?
  Some Python history: announcements, old site changes, etc.