shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use The Hitchhiker's Guide to Python?

An opinionated guide and best-practice handbook for installing, configuring, and using Python daily. - docs.python-guide.org

Worth it. A free, community-written best-practices handbook — zero-risk reading for novice-to-intermediate Python developers. It is not software, a course, or a supported product, so teams wanting structured training should look elsewhere.

Confidence

High. Based on 20+ public sources: official docs, O'Reilly book listings, Reddit, book roundups, and university syllabi.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depthIt's a guide, not software — nothing to score
  • Support qualityCommunity project; no support evidence found
  • Security postureStatic content site; no security page found

Pricing

Free

Online guide

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
O'Reilly print/ebookPaid, varies by retailer

Best for

  • New-to-intermediate Python developers
  • Self-taught programmers
  • Educators building syllabi
  • Data-science beginners

Not for

  • Expert Pythonistas wanting deep, current framework guidance
  • Teams needing interactive courses, labs, or certificates
  • Anyone expecting vendor support or guaranteed updates
  • Buyers hunting for a tool or app — this is a book

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Guess: guide dates back years; verify tooling advice against current docs before relying on it

low

O'Reilly print/ebook editions cost money; the web version is the free one

low

Content is opinionated by design; some choices may not match your team's conventions

low

No security page found — expected for static docs, but noted

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Completely free online — no signup or paywall
  • Written collaboratively by 100+ members of the Python community
  • Explicitly serves novice and expert developers alike
  • Widely recommended; used in university course syllabi
  • Covers installation, configuration, and daily-use best practices

Cons

  • Reading material only — no exercises, videos, or support
  • Opinionated recommendations, not a neutral reference
  • Book and ebook editions are sold separately
  • No security page on the docs site

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/21/2026 - 10 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x4review x5security x1

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Completely free online; paid only if you want print
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Plain docs site, easy to skim
  • Feature depth. It's a guide, not software — nothing to score
  • Support quality. Community project; no support evidence found
  • Security posture. Static content site; no security page found
  • $0 Price Full guide free online
  • 100+ Contributors Python community members, per Google Books
  • O'Reilly Print edition By Kenneth Reitz & Tanya Schlusser
  • Novice–expert Stated audience Per the guide's own introduction

Pricing

Online guide

Free

  • Full handbook
  • No signup

O'Reilly print/ebook

Paid, varies by retailer

  • Same content in book form

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Readers consistently call it a concise, free primer for Python best practices.

“It's a good, get-right-to-the-good-parts guide...”
Reddit, r/ruby
“This book is a great starter.”
Towards Data Science
“A great place to start is The Hitchhiker's Guide to Python!”
Geoff Does Stuff
Full analysis

Based on 20+ public sources: official docs, O'Reilly book listings, Reddit, book roundups, and university syllabi.

Free, community-written Python best-practices handbook. Great primer for learners; not a course, tool, or supported product.

Methodology

Based on 20+ public sources: official docs, O'Reilly book listings, Reddit, book roundups, and university syllabi.

Sources

  1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to Python (official)docs.python-guide.org
    official
  2. Security page checkdocs.python-guide.org
    security
  3. O'Reilly book listingoreilly.com
    official
  4. Google Books descriptionbooks.google.com
    review
  5. Reddit r/ruby discussionreddit.com
    review
  6. Towards Data Science — free books rounduptowardsdatascience.com
    review
  7. LinuxLinks — 48 free Python bookslinuxlinks.com
    review
  8. JKU course syllabus referencestudienhandbuch.jku.at
    official
  9. Geoff Does Stuff — Python resourcesgeoffdoesstuff.com
    review
  10. Huihoo mirror of the guidedocs.huihoo.com
    official

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