Being one the first books on any topic out there is a double edged sword. On the one hand you can corner the market for a while and on the other you have a wide range of expectations to deal with. With the topic being IronPython, this challenge is even trickier with the diversity of the Python audience (CPython, Jython, PyPy etc) plus the .Net crowd thrown in. Pleasing everyone is going to be tricky! Personally, I was after a more rounded knowledge of Python (I've learnt what I have through a mish-mash of tutorials and podcasts) and, more importantly, a good bit on .Net that will feed into the day job.

The opening chapter introduces the history of both Python and IronPython, dynamic languages and the rich .Net Framework. The short sections on IronPython for .Net Programmer and IronPython for Python Programmer are a nice touch. Being part of the 'In Action' Series, it unsurprisingly wastes no time and dives straight into the Python console, Silverlight, meta-programming and more before reaching chapter 2! The second chapter was one of the key ones for me hoping to fill in my patchy Python knowledge. The authors have thankfully not rushed this section (as many catch-up chapters in books sometimes do). Anyone new to Python should be up to speed no problem. Later chapters in the book cover more advanced Python topics such as protocols. It is also not just Python in there. Design patterns, unit testing and other general topics are covered with their particular relevance to Python.

Chapter 4 introduces the multi-doc example which is revisited in later chapters with different aspects expanded. This contrasts with some shallow samples in other programming books which on second glance are not that helpful. The entire book is also fairly neutral in terms of tools. Mono (alternative version of .Net) is covered. Whilst MS centric technology is covered such as ASP.net and Visual Studio get good coverage too, other editors/IDE such as Wing. The Open Source crowd shouldn't feel left out. The chapter on databases chooses PostgreSQL which is an odd choice as MS SQL would be a bit more Enterprise-y and has some excellent free (beer) editions. This would make the book a bit more appealing to the Windows audience. However the RBMS choice is platform neutral and using the Framework classes doesn't differ too much when using different systems. Another little niggle here is that use of COM objects is not covered - perhaps a legacy topic for a cutting edge technology book and COM usage is covered in online resources.

I have not tried everything in the book - there's a lot in there! GUI test automation is probably next on my list. Later topics cover hosting IronPython in your own programs so you can enable them for scripting and more advanced mixing of IronPython and the regular .Net languages. Powershell also high on my list to re-read. Rather that list all the chapters here I will link to the books own website - which looks like a promising resource for updates particularly for such a relatively young implementation of the language.

To really give the book a road test I decide to use it as my main reference for working on a small desktop application. I chose a code editor as a project - turned out to be very different to MultiDoc and the contrasts particularly in the design decisions. (As a little aside, the editor may get released with a bit more work.) It also served as a good 'playground' for trying out things from the book and I often found myself going there first instead of the usual MSDN and Visual Studio class browser. It is not a dust gathering title. The electronic version is worth having alongside the dead tree version (estimated as being Jan 2009).

Before summing up there's a couple of things I should mention. Firstly, I am basing this review on the 'early access' version of the book which is a very advanced edited draft. At the time of reviewing the Appendices and Index where not available and some diagrams were 'work in progress'. I managed to get by fairly well with the Find feature of Adobe Acrobat though a human edited index would be a good addition. Secondly, I should mention I have bumped into one of the authors on the Internet - but who in the (Python) world, hasn't dropped and email to that guy with the funny name and 6 multicoloured heads! I think that absolves me of bias. Probably.

In conclusion, if you are interested in IronPython this book is a must for your bookshelf. 'IronPython In Action' gives a packed tour of IronPython across the key technologies from the desktop, databases, system administration to the web server and client side. Commendably it manages to bring all interested groups along for the ride and you will definitely be inspired to 'Action'. Ho ho. Going back to my initial goals after reading it, I definitely have improved my IronPython, Python and .Net. Result.

IronPython in Action is published by Mannings. A free chapter is available so you can try before you buy.

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-10-16 20:47:05.
Categories: IronPython, Python Tags : Book
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After a delay of 3 months (sorry - new job, house fun etc !), Part 4 is now online - oddly the article was written and it was just a little coding required to complete.

Part Four now online. Don't forget Part One and Part Two and Part Three. Articles are aimed at programmers new to GUI work - anyone experienced in GUI programming should zoom right through them.

Getting back to some IronPython on my summer hols... more talking RSS via Speech Synthesis, a podcast orientated MP3 player and have been reading IronPython in Action.

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-08-18 20:30:39.
Categories: IronPython, Python, Software Tags : XAML WPF IronPython
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So much to blog about... so little time... one thing...

Ever since I put together Mood News, I wanted (and people suggested) having a slider to 'mix' the level of the news. Silverlight 2 (beta) inspired me to put together a new version and though a bit plain looking for a Silverlight app. Data is not updated 'live' yet but that will come soon. Definitely some scope for some swirly colour gradients.

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-05-13 21:55:04.
Categories: IronPython, Python, MoodNews Tags : BBC
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Part Three now online. A bit more to digest this time. Don't forget Part One and Part Two. Articles are aimed at programmers new to GUI work - anyone experienced in GUI programming should zoom right through them.

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-04-27 20:54:34.
Categories: IronPython, Python, Software Tags : XAML WPF
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Recently I had the idea of writing a bit more on the XAML example I put together. Initially it was going to be on the wiki, then a blog post and now it looks like it will be 5 short articles . Anyway, Part One and Part Two are available right now. Articles are aimed at programmers new to GUI work - anyone experienced in GUI programming should zoom right through them.

The style is explained in the first article (and the reasons behind it sadly still stand for too many computing texts): Many years ago I worked on some tutorials for MFC (a Microsoft C++ GUI Library). The trouble we had with most of the existing reference materials was that the examples crammed in too much at once making it difficult for beginner GUI/MFC programmers to navigate the code. These articles will follow the style we eventually settled on - simple code examples with just one or two GUI controls being displayed interacting. Have fun and I hope you learn something.

So, please enjoy and please feedback!

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-04-23 22:05:32.
Categories: IronPython, Python, Software Tags : XAML WPF
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1. 'World peace' hitcher is murdered
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2. OLE Automation (IDispatch) Support in IronPython
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12. The Bible and Modern Astronomy, Part 2
    
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20. Psychotic: optimizing Python compiler
    

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11. 'World peace' hitcher is murdered
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12. OLE Automation (IDispatch) Support in IronPython
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13. Expelled Review
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16. ANN: ActivePython 2.5.2.2 and 2.4.5.14 are now available
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Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-04-12 16:52:34.
Categories: IronPython, Python, Software, Internet Tags : Google RayComfort
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There's been a fair bit of blogging about Twitter and people 'getting it' or not. Sure, it is a great networking site and far more fun than the likes of Bebo but that's not Twitters strength which lies in its API which makes a great platform. Any app can have email/IM/SMS notifications (public or private) with just a few lines.

Besides from getting 140 character updates, the more interesting Tweets come from news services and other Bots. BBC have a number of good channels though I tend to track keywords e.g Scotland in tweets. I have also been looking at Trac for issue tracking so have been following peoples experiences - complaints about installation and discussion of alternatives have proved invaluable and conjured up new leads. Redmine looks cool but is ROR rather than Python!

Also Twitter is probably best experienced through IM with Google Talk being my preferred client. This turns Twitter into a terminal/console for internet applications. Remember The Milk is the best example. I can add a task to my todo list by typing 'd rtm Buy some milk.' into my IM window. Neat!

Okay a few more applications are required (Google Calendar please?) but I'd advise you to sign up for Twitter. It is just getting interesting

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-04-09 20:38:21.
Categories: Internet, IronPython, Python, Scotland, Software Tags : Twitter
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Been playing around with IronPython and XAML lately. It is pretty cool to work with and the end results look really good. Well they look slick until you go overboard playing with gradients and drop shadows! I put together a version of the Firedrop2 gui in XAML as an example on the Ironpython cookbook.

XAML would have been at lot easier if I had downloaded and Express edition of VB2008 earlier. It includes a powerful XAML editor which works 2 ways (edit with gui or fiddle with the code.

Finally I was totally fooled by Psychotic - well done!

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-04-03 21:30:52.
Categories: IronPython, Python Tags : AprilFool Psychotic
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1. BBC apologizes for erroneous reporting on Israel
2. Solution sought over embryo vote
3. views.py for wikinear.com
4. SkySails Test Results In! 20% Fuel Savings!
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Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-03-24 18:36:03.
Categories: Internet, Python, IronPython, Christian Tags : Ubuntu Israel
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Right going to burn through a few topics fast tonight since I was up at 5am...

pythonnews now has 24 followers. In case you missed it, Pythonnews tweets News about the Python Programming Language brought to you on Twitter! Another good reason to sign up to Twitter. When Twitter is used through IM in particular, it can be quite powerful as you can track keywords, access bots (rememberthemilk being an important one for me) and meet some great people. With a few more bots it could be powerful command shell.

IronPython has had another release and they have fixed a few bugs I needed out of the way. Thank guys! Only had time to run Mood News on it tonight but there are a lot of bugs fixed and a few new features.

Yes and am running on Python 2.5 now... on Ubuntu Hardy Heron. The Alpha has a Windows install so you can install to the Windows Filesystem so no repartitioning or anything nasty. C:Ubuntu indeed. Reboot and you have a full install of Ubuntu to try out. Impressive stuff and much nicer than Vista.

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-03-02 07:34:04.
Categories: Python, IronPython, Internet Tags : Twitter .Net
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Sheesh... I have been busy but I want to do a Python news project (newsletter and podcast plans shelved sadly) this year and I needed a small project that would suit sporadic yet regular short updates. So I have launched a Twitter service called pythonnews - News about the Python Programming Language brought to you on Twitter!

If you want to publicise something Python related just direct message pythonnews or leave a comment.

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-02-26 18:21:04.
Categories: IronPython, Python, Fun Tags : Twitter
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The BBC have been working on some cool RSS projects and they are going to open source a web slider controls soon too. There's a pretty cool demo to play with. The idea is you 'mix' a level of locality to the news you want.

I have always wanted to add a slider to MoodNews and this looks like a good fit. Other slider controls are available! Speaking of the BBC, MoodNews got a mention on the PM blog the other day. PM is probably my favourite news program on radio and accompanies me on my commute home each night.

Posted by Davy Mitchell on 2008-01-09 22:07:21.
Categories: Internet, IronPython, Python, MoodNews Tags : BBC Mashup Slider
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