Python is an Internet and systems programming language that is rapidly gaining worldwide popularity in today's fast-paced software development environment. Although initially known for building web/CGI applications, Python is also known for the rapid prototyping of networking, database, XML, and graphic user interface (GUI) applications.

This follow-on course to Introduction to Python introduces developers to a variety of advanced topics in Python programming, including those features new to more recent versions of Python. Every day, we will discuss and interact while covering several topics from the list below. Unlike the more structured intro course however, this course is more flexible and informal. Attendees democratically choose from the topics below, and the course will be custom-designed to teach the topics in most desired order. We will many of the topics listed below, as many as time will permit.

• Execution Environment
• Operating System Interface
• New Features in Python 2.x
• Topics in Advanced Python OOP
• Using Regular Expressions in Python
• Network Programming with Sockets
• Internet (Client) Programming
• Multithreaded Programming
• GUI Programming with Tkinter
• Web and CGI Programming
• SQL and Database Programming
• Extending Python with C
• Web Services/APIs
• Microsoft Office (Win32 COM client) Programming
• Java and Jython
• XML Processing in Python

Students completing this class should be able to take their existing knowledge of Python and be able to branch it out into a variety of areas of programming. Depending on the topics cover, these could include being able to use regular expressions to perform complex pattern matching, developing graphical user interfaces and associated callbacks, be able to create or communicate with Win32 applications, being able to write an extension in C, and do a little bit of Internet and Web programming. Using this knowledge, students will hone their ability to build a variety of more serious tools and applications.

PREREQUISITE: Completion of "Python Programming I" (or its equivalent in experience or coursework); a background in Unix/C development or network programming may be helpful but not required.

REQUIRED SOFTWARE: A Python interpreter is required for this course. Any Python interpreter will do, from the standard C version to one of the various implementations described above. Other software may be required for certain specific topics, i.e., a Win32 system for the Win32/COM topic, a Java interpreter for Java/Jython, a RDBMS for the DB/SQL topic, etc.

REQUIRED HARDWARE: A laptop/notebook or otherwise portable computer is required for the course exercises. Attendees may use any platform where Python is available. Bring your power cord! A network or wireless card is optional but useful in case you wish to connect to the Internet from your hotel/room.

WESLEY J. CHUN, M.S., holds Computer Science, Mathematics, and Music degrees from the University of California. With over two decades of programming and instructional experience, he founded CyberWeb Consulting, specializing in software engineering and corporate training, and serves as its Principal. He is the author of Core Python Programming, the highly-regarded Python book in Prentice Hall's popular Core series, and is also a coordinator for the Silicon Valley-San Francisco Bay Area Python users group (BayPIGgies) and a volunteer moderator for the Python Tutor mailing list. He was previously an engineer at IronPort, Yahoo!, Sun, HP, Rockwell, Legato, and Xilinx. While at Yahoo!, he helped create Yahoo!Mail and Yahoo! People Search using Python.

Fees: $1495USD per person. $1095USD (two-day short course) per person. Enrollment limited.