[Python-talk] Was Re: Opinions on "Python Essential Reference Now: How do you find function x if you don't know what x is...

[Bruce Labitt]

Kent Johnson wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 7:06 PM, Bruce Labitt 
> <bruce.labitt at myfairpoint.net <mailto:bruce.labitt at myfairpoint.net>> 
> wrote:
>
>     Here is a general question.  How does one find in the python world
>     functions that have been written besides google? 
>
>
> Do you have something against google? Googling 'python <problem 
> description>' is often fruitful.
Not at all.  I spend a lot of time there.  :-)     I was wondering if 
there was something better.  Google is great if you can frame your 
search well.  However, that is usually the problem.  You have to know 
the 'right' key words.
>  
>
>      I guess it is an existence type question, how does one figure out
>     if function (or method) x is in module y?  Especially when one
>     doesn't know the name x (or how to spell it).  Is there a good
>     place to browse python functions?  Usually the problem is you know
>     you need to do a function 'something', but you don't know what
>     someone else has already called it. How does one find that
>     'something'?
>
>
> It's a good idea to at least browse the table of contents of the 
> library reference, and skim sections of interest, so you have some 
> idea what types of things are available.
> http://docs.python.org/library/
>
> For functions outside the std lib, Google is your friend. You can also 
> browse or search on PyPI:
> http://pypi.python.org/pypi
>
> Or ask, here or python-tutor or comp.lang.python.
>
> Kent
>  
I have spent quite a bit of time on pypi, out of curiosity.  I have not 
found a good way to search it looking for something.   Likewise for the 
docs.python.org/library.   Just wondering if there was a better way.

Bruce