.. _tut-whatnow:

*********

What Now?

*********

Reading this tutorial has probably reinforced your interest in using Python ---

you should be eager to apply Python to solving your real-world problems. Where

should you go to learn more?

This tutorial is part of Python's documentation set.   Some other documents in

the set are:

* :ref:`library-index`:

  You should browse through this manual, which gives complete (though terse)

  reference material about types, functions, and the modules in the standard

  library.  The standard Python distribution includes a *lot* of additional code.

  There are modules to read Unix mailboxes, retrieve documents via HTTP, generate

  random numbers, parse command-line options, write CGI programs, compress data,

  and many other tasks. Skimming through the Library Reference will give you an

  idea of what's available.

* :ref:`install-index` explains how to install external modules written by other

  Python users.

* :ref:`reference-index`: A detailed explanation of Python's syntax and

  semantics.  It's heavy reading, but is useful as a complete guide to the

  language itself.

More Python resources:

* http://www.python.org:  The major Python Web site.  It contains code,

  documentation, and pointers to Python-related pages around the Web.  This Web

  site is mirrored in various places around the world, such as Europe, Japan, and

  Australia; a mirror may be faster than the main site, depending on your

  geographical location.

* http://docs.python.org:  Fast access to Python's  documentation.

* http://pypi.python.org: The Python Package Index, previously also nicknamed

  the Cheese Shop, is an index of user-created Python modules that are available

  for download.  Once you begin releasing code, you can register it here so that

  others can find it.

* http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Python/Cookbook/: The Python Cookbook is a

  sizable collection of code examples, larger modules, and useful scripts.

  Particularly notable contributions are collected in a book also titled Python

  Cookbook (O'Reilly & Associates, ISBN 0-596-00797-3.)

For Python-related questions and problem reports, you can post to the newsgroup

:newsgroup:`comp.lang.python`, or send them to the mailing list at

python-list@python.org.  The newsgroup and mailing list are gatewayed, so

messages posted to one will automatically be forwarded to the other.  There are

around 120 postings a day (with peaks up to several hundred), asking (and

answering) questions, suggesting new features, and announcing new modules.

Before posting, be sure to check the list of `Frequently Asked Questions

<http://www.python.org/doc/faq/>`_ (also called the FAQ), or look for it in the

:file:`Misc/` directory of the Python source distribution.  Mailing list

archives are available at http://mail.python.org/pipermail/. The FAQ answers

many of the questions that come up again and again, and may already contain the

solution for your problem.

.. Postings figure based on average of last six months activity as

   reported by www.egroups.com; Jan. 2000 - June 2000: 21272 msgs / 182

   days = 116.9 msgs / day and steadily increasing. (XXX up to date figures?)