MacResearch

Author: Drew McCormack

I have just made available 'Scientific Scripting with Python' via the lulu.com web site as a physical book, as well as a PDF download. Previously, the manuscript was only available on the iPhone via the App Store. It takes quite an unusual approach, in that it is totally focussed on the skills you need to process data in science.

From the blurb:

Learn how to automate your scientific research with Python. This book teaches you the basics of the popular Python scripting language, before delving deep into all aspects of processing data.

Python is a simple, yet powerful, programming language similar to Perl, Tcl, and Ruby. It is heavily used in scientific research, and by companies like Google.

This book places a strong emphasis on practical techniques for handling data. Although targeted specifically at scientists and engineers, anyone who needs to automate their work flow would find it useful.

Work on the second edition of Beginning Mac OS X Programming is also winding down. Mike Trent and I have spent the last few months bringing the material up to date, and Beginning Mac OS X Snow Leopard Programming should be in shops in a few months time. You can pre-order it now at Amazon. (Please use the links provided to purchase. MacResearch gets an affiliate royalty, which helps us maintain the site.)

Beginning Mac OS X Snow Leopard Programming is somewhat unusual in that it is really the only broad introduction to Mac programming available. Most books concentrate on one aspect of Mac programming, such as Cocoa or AppleScript. This book has tutorials on nearly all aspects of Mac development, including C, Objective-C, Cocoa, Core Data, Xcode, IB, AppleScript, AppleScriptObjC, JavaScript, Dashcode, Bash, Python, and Ruby. It's a good introduction to all the technologies on the platform, and gives you a launch pad to dig deeper.