Introduction to Python: 2018 Edition

by Mark Lassoff, Julius Hernandez

Few programming languages provide you with the flexibility and pure power of Python. If you're becoming a professional developer, or are early in your development career, adding the Python skill set isn't just a resume embellishment-- It's an empowering language that will allow you to write procedural code in many types of environments and for many uses. Python is commonly used for server side programming for complex web applications or as a middle tier language providing web services or a communication layer with larger ecommerce systems. That being said, it's also a great language for beginners. The clear syntax makes it very easy to learn, and the powerful libraries make all types of programming possible. There are libraries for everything from games and graphics to complex mathematics to network and embedded programming. Watch, Learn and Do Programming is not a spectator sport and if you want to learn Python well, this book contains everything you need. You'll be able to study and modify the code provided on your own to cement each topic. Python code coding lab exercises will familiarize you not just with Python syntax, but how real problem-solving in Python is done. Table of Contents Writing Your First Python Program-- Quick Start Using the Shell Window Writing Code in the Editor Window Executing Python on the Command Line Coding Writing, Running and Debugging Section Output The print() Function Separators and Newlines Coding Using the print() function Section Variables Variable Assignment Number Variables (Int, float and complex) String Variables Substrings and Concatenation Variables with Lists, Tuples and Dictionaries Coding Using Variables Section Operators Python Mathematical Operators Order of Operations Python Comparison Operators Python Logical Operators Coding Operators Practice Section Code Branching Simple If Statements If.... Else Statements Nested If Statements Ternary Operator Coding Conditionals Section Loops While Loops For Loops Nested Loops Break and Continue Statements Coding Loops Section Math Functions Casting Functions Mathematical Functions Random Functions Coding Math Functions Section Python String Functions capitalize(), center() and count() find(), isalpha(), isdigit() join(), len(), split() Coding String Functions Section Tuples and Dictionaries Creating Tuples Accessing Values in Tuples Tuple Functions Declaring a Dictionary Accessing and Editing Values in Dictionaries Dictionary Functions Coding Dictionaries Section Time and Date The Time Tuple The Calendar Time and Calendar Functions Coding Time Section Python Functions Defining and Calling a Simple Function Required Argument Functions Keyword Argument Functions Default Function Arguments Return Statement Creating and Consuming Python Modules Coding Functions Section Input/Output Reading Keyboard Input Reading an External Text File

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2018

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for people learning Python. Some of the exercises are contrived and simple, but such is the nature of intro books.

Mark and his team have always done a great job of building intro content to get people from 0-60 in a quick time. Once you finish the book you are reading to learn more advanced concepts.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good slow and steady intro for those who may not be familiar with programming.