.bat file type thing

[sparkes]

Simon Taplin wrote:
> What is the equivilent to the old .bat files in DOS/Windows. I want to 
> learn some type of scripting language for linux. I am considering perl 
> and python (anybody know any good free books on either of these?). Are 
> these a good choice or is there something else?

the real equivlent of a batch file would be a shell script file but if 
you are looking to learn a scripting language for more than quickie's 
perl or python would be a better choice to make.  But that said everyone 
should at least reconise a bash script ;-)

`http://www.diveintopython.org` is an excellent online book for newbie 
python developers and has links to the python docs at 
`www.python.org/docs/` and `how to think like a computer scientist 
python edition`.  I would follow the short chapters in diveintopython 
and learn how the language works from there.  you can also `apt-get 
diveintopython` (at least in hoary) and read it offline.

Follow the instructions about sleeping with the libary reference under 
your pillow because you will use that document more than any other once 
you have a grasp of the language constructs.

I hope you enjoy python as much as I have ;-)  This time last year I 
used C and C++ for almost everything and can't believe how much quicker 
python is to develop in than a compiled language.  The whole language is 
fantastic and really flexiable.  In fact I am currently developing a 3d 
game with it, have developed hundreds of web scripts and maintain my 
systems with it.

> 
> Simon

sparkes
-- 
<davee> "Sparkes, the Pete Best of LugRadio"