Beginning Python Webservices

So for any that aren't clear, classes are on Tues and Thurs at 21:00 pacific standard time.  I'll try to post as much as I can here for those that can't make class, but most of the material on http://k0s.org/mozilla/craft/ is only semi-sensible without discussion (though I'd encourage all participants to look through at least a lecture ahead).

So last Thursday we covered the introduction to the class:

http://k0s.org/mozilla/craft/introduction.html

Basically, we covered web services in general and how they relate to web sites and human-readable and machine-readable services.  As always, if you have any questions, feel free to start a discussion here.  There's, quite honestly, too much information on the topic to teach in a 6 week (I think?) course, so we can use the forums to broaden the core material a bit or to address things that aren't clear in the course material.

The schedule for the immediate future is something like this:

Tues 21: HTTP - Basic overview of HTTP and, time permitting, how you might use it to make web services and sites.  I hope to get through most of this in one class.  While there will not be thorough coverage of all topics, we can return to outstanding issues later in the course.  http://k0s.org/mozilla/craft/http.html

Thurs 23:  We'll go over the class project first: http://k0s.org/mozilla/craft/project.html  You'll be designing one or more web services and programming them as the core work of the class.  While you don't have to start on it this earlier, I at least want to give you an idea of what you'll be expected to do.  I'll also start talking about how to program in python: http://k0s.org/mozilla/craft/python.html  This might end up being two classes or at least a class and a half, as I'm sure those with less programming experience will have questions.  But if we get to WebOb in your first class, you should at least be able to start thinking more nuts+bolts of how you can use it to program a web service.

Tues 27: Most likely tying up loose ends on python.  I might also talk about the project more.  Then we can see what we want to do.  We can address any outstanding issues in more depth, go over people's project ideas (if anyone's started thinking about them), or go straight on with templates: http://k0s.org/mozilla/craft/templates.html

I'll see where we are at this point and plough ahead accordingly.

Best of luck everyone!  Questions welcome!

Jeff