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Review of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to Python

Before you carry on reading, this book will not teach you how to program in Python. It is not intended for that, and you should not read it if what you want is to learn the basics of Python Programming. For that, there are other great books for which we have written about like Python Crash Course or Learning Python.

However, Mid-level Python programmers that want to notch up their skills, discover great tools, and reach Python expertise, will find this book most enjoyable. This is because this book is not about learning how to program, but rather about learning what Python is as a language, with is its philosophy, powers, and uses, and discovering a wide range of libraries and practices for optimal development.

A useful outcome is a reproducible project: an isolated environment, documented dependencies, clear folders, and instructions another person can follow. You do not need to customize every editor setting before writing useful code.

The guide introduces style conventions, testing, logging, documentation, and common application areas. Apply one practice to an existing project, then check whether it makes that project easier to run or maintain.

Lastly, you will learn about Python’s scientific applications, text mining and manipulation, how to cope with images, cryptography and data persistence.

Treat the tooling suggestions as an opinionated starting point. Tools and installation instructions change, so check the current official documentation for the specific package before adopting it.

While for some this makes the book no more than a collection of solutions and services, for us it is a fantastic resource to have read and to keep nearby, to use as a pragmatic guide on how to get things done in Python. Also, it is full of humour, as can be seen from it’s name, and will make the reading and learning an enjoyable and galactic road.

The official Hitchhiker’s Guide to Python website is free to read. The online guide and the printed book can differ; use the website for its linked resources, and verify version-sensitive instructions against the relevant project documentation.

About the book

Author: while its two main authors are Kenneth Reitz and Tanya Schlusser, this book is really an opinionated guide that exists to provide both novice and expert Python developers a best practice handbook to the installation, configuration, and usage of Python on a daily basis.

Length: 338 pages.

First release year: 2016

Print versus web: this review discusses the 2016 book and its online companion. Do not assume that changes to the website correspond to a new print edition.

Summary of the Hitchhikers guide to Python

As a practical exercise, turn one notebook or script into a small reproducible project: document how to install it, keep configuration separate from logic, and add a test. Then read Architecture Patterns with Python if growing application complexity becomes the next obstacle.

However, it compiles a vast amount of information on how and where to use Python, along with the best available tools to use in different contexts, how to improve your coding style, and how to set up and understand all that surrounds the language (IDE, packages, debugging and documenting).

Overall, a fresh and delightful resource to have at hand.

You can buy The Hitchhiker’s guide to Python on Amazon here

You can find other Python books here, and Online Python Programming Courses. Also, in our Tutorials category you can find other awesome resources to learn this fantastic programming language like Kaggle Learn or RealPython.

Thank you so much for reading How to Learn Machine Learning, we hope you enjoyed the review! Take care!