Mark Pilgrim
Encyclopedia
Mark Pilgrim is a software developer, writer, and advocate of free software
. He authors a popular blog
, and has written several books including Dive into Python, a guide to the Python programming language
published under the GNU Free Documentation License
. Formerly an accessibility architect in the IBM
Emerging Technologies Group, he started working at Google
in March 2007.
and modern software development techniques. It assumes some preexisting knowledge of programming, although not necessarily in Python. The first edition was published in 2004 (ISBN 1-59059-356-1), and a 2009 second edition (ISBN 9781430224150) covers Python 3. Both are available online as well as in print.
Much of the book consists of example programs with annotations and explanatory text, generally describe how to modify an example to serve new purposes. One early example program reads through a directory of MP3
files and lists the header information, such as artist, album, etc. Other topics covered include object oriented programming, documentation
, unit testing, and accessing and parsing HTML
and XML
.
Mark has also written a monthly column Dive Into XML for O'Reilly
's XML.com.
tweeted that Pilgrim himself was "alive/annoyed we called the police".
Both Pilgrim's actions in October 2011 and why the lucky stiff
's similar disappearance in August 2009 have been described as "infosuicide".
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
. He authors a popular blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, and has written several books including Dive into Python, a guide to the Python programming language
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
published under the GNU Free Documentation License
GNU Free Documentation License
The GNU Free Documentation License is a copyleft license for free documentation, designed by the Free Software Foundation for the GNU Project. It is similar to the GNU General Public License, giving readers the rights to copy, redistribute, and modify a work and requires all copies and...
. Formerly an accessibility architect in the IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
Emerging Technologies Group, he started working at Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
in March 2007.
Dive Into Python
Pilgrim's book Dive Into Python is a teach-by-example guide to the paradigms of programming in PythonPython (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
and modern software development techniques. It assumes some preexisting knowledge of programming, although not necessarily in Python. The first edition was published in 2004 (ISBN 1-59059-356-1), and a 2009 second edition (ISBN 9781430224150) covers Python 3. Both are available online as well as in print.
Much of the book consists of example programs with annotations and explanatory text, generally describe how to modify an example to serve new purposes. One early example program reads through a directory of MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
files and lists the header information, such as artist, album, etc. Other topics covered include object oriented programming, documentation
Documentation
Documentation is a term used in several different ways. Generally, documentation refers to the process of providing evidence.Modules of Documentation are Helpful...
, unit testing, and accessing and parsing HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
and XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
.
Other work
- Greasemonkey Hacks Tips & Tools for Remixing the Web with Firefox, O'ReillyO'Reilly MediaO'Reilly Media is an American media company established by Tim O'Reilly that publishes books and Web sites and produces conferences on computer technology topics...
, 2005 - Dive Into Accessibility, a free book on web accessibility, for web designers
- Dive into Greasemonkey, a free book on GreasemonkeyGreasemonkeyGreasemonkey is a Mozilla Firefox extension that allows users to install scripts that make on-the-fly changes to HTML web page content on the DOMContentLoaded event, which happens immediately after it is loaded in the browser .As Greasemonkey scripts are persistent, the changes made to the web...
.
- Dive into HTML 5, a free book on HTML5
Mark has also written a monthly column Dive Into XML for O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media
O'Reilly Media is an American media company established by Tim O'Reilly that publishes books and Web sites and produces conferences on computer technology topics...
's XML.com.
Open source work
Mark Pilgrim has contributed to a number of open source works including"Disappearance" from the internet
From 4 October 2011, Mark Pilgrim's various websites (diveintomark.org, Dive Into HTML5, Dive Into Accessibility, Dive Into Greasemonkey, Dive Into Python, etc.) returned HTTP status 410 Gone. He also deleted his Twitter, Reddit, Google+ and Github accounts. On 5 October 2011 Jason ScottJason Scott
Jason Scott may refer to:*Jason Scott Sadofsky , American archivist and historian of technology, commonly known as Jason Scott*Jason Lee Scott, fictional character played by Austin St...
tweeted that Pilgrim himself was "alive/annoyed we called the police".
Both Pilgrim's actions in October 2011 and why the lucky stiff
Why the lucky stiff
why the lucky stiff is the persona formerly used by an anonymous and prolific writer, cartoonist, musician, artist, and computer programmer notable for his work with the Ruby programming language...
's similar disappearance in August 2009 have been described as "infosuicide".