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Python programming for beginners

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It is no surprise to anyone that, currently, the technological and computer processes are advancing and progressing at an extremely advanced speed. Every day, we see new applications, programs, electronics, and other products that make a lot easier the actions we do every day.

For the creation of each of these things, the union and coexistence of many factors are required. For a vehicle to work properly, it must have a computer in charge of all the processes. Apart from the electricity and electronics of the vehicle, we need the programming.

In this book, you will find extremely important information about the beginnings of programming in general and to learn how to program in the programming language Python from zero.

Throughout the chapters of this book, you will find several examples of programs that will help you understand the programming process. In addition to that, when you finish this book, you will have extensive knowledge in the following

- Data Integers, Floats, Complex, Booleans, Strings, and others; The meaning of variable, how to declare a variable, and types of variables

- Basic Operators and What are the basic operators and why they are needed, the different statements with their respective diagrams

- Loops and Control What is a loop and how to use it, nested loops, for, range, while, break, continue, and pass

- What is an exception and its benefits, the use of try and except

- Files What is it and how to use it, handling .xslx, .pdf, and .txt files

- What is a database and how to use it, short introduction to MySQL language, Python and MySQL

- Programming and What is OOP (Object-Oriented Programming) and the benefits of this type of programming, what is a class and a method and how to create them

Paperback

First published December 15, 2014

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About the author

Jason Cannon

50 books17 followers

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5 stars
106 (37%)
4 stars
91 (32%)
3 stars
53 (18%)
2 stars
22 (7%)
1 star
10 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
14 reviews
July 29, 2017
Nice and clean book, very good and brief introduction to Python.
Profile Image for Karen Anderson.
43 reviews
December 17, 2019
This is a good book to get someone used to programming by way of Python. It walks through basic principles of Python with a lot of examples and references. There are some typos and sometimes the examples don't work out. At that point you just have to move on. Good book for learning the basics and a beginner.
Profile Image for Jason Townsend.
226 reviews9 followers
January 9, 2026
A decent introduction

This book provides a quick overview of basic Python programming for beginners, just like it claims.

However, it might be more beneficial for some users if they already have a prior programming background or a clear idea of what they actually want to do with Python. Without those, the examples in this book can be difficult to contextualize.
Profile Image for Louis.
7 reviews
July 13, 2018
Good for beginner programmers

This is a good book to get someone used to programming by way of Python. As the title says, it's a book for beginners, not intermediate or advanced programmers. It walks through basic principles of Python with a lot of examples and references.
22 reviews
October 15, 2018
Good intro

A very good way to get your feet wet in programming with python very simple and to the point if you’re unsure if you want to venture into python this is a good book to get as it’s short and simple. If you’re looking for advanced stuff look elsewhere.
Profile Image for PETRU LUCIAN GIURCA.
2 reviews
January 18, 2020
Amazing introductory Python book.

It worth every pennies! I took all the Udemy courses of Jason Cannon. Great author and great teacher. Thank you for your wonderful teaching methods.
Profile Image for Keith Gandy.
124 reviews3 followers
February 27, 2023
A very clean read to get a novice up and running with basic terms and structures of python programming. I found the book to be very helpful. From your first introduction to file handling Jason instructs and explains in easy to understand terms.
Profile Image for Rodrigo Ramos.
76 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2017
Excelente para enterarse de los primeros pasos con la sintaxis del lenguaje. Nada fuera de lo común, pero lo suficiente como para entender los lineamientos del lenguaje.
35 reviews
August 6, 2018
Python programing

A good book not for absolute beginners. It contains good examples in each chapter. One good thing is it has links at the end of every chapter such is very useful
25 reviews1 follower
October 4, 2018
Straight to the point

Good book, easy introduction to the basic of python. Clear and easy with load of examples and exercises.
Maybe a section on object oriented ....
15 reviews
April 11, 2021
Great examples!

Great basics & example programs! Easy to follow. Extra links are helpful and the challenges are not too difficult, but allow for hands-on guided learning.
88 reviews
December 16, 2022
Good reasonable text

A pretty simple text that is easy to read with good examples. Easy reading and addresses most aspects of using Python productively.
Profile Image for Derry.
3 reviews
March 31, 2025
Good refresher of the basics. Easy to follow, clear and concise
Profile Image for Aikenjch.
1 review
March 10, 2017
What a lovely cover in this edition! I bought the 2016 version and the cartoonic snake in the cover was replaced by a real one. Sort of pity. The book is very easy to read and give confidence to computer noobs. The content is interpreted very clearly and make reader have desire to finish it quickly. Finally some advice, the help command should be taught earlier.
Profile Image for Aaron.
309 reviews49 followers
September 1, 2021
According to Goodreads, I read this book on December 10, 2015. And according to Goodreads, at the time I gave it a 5-star rating, but no review. I guess that makes it easier to update since there's no review to amend. Revisiting it some 5 years later, I'm a little reluctant to place it at that same level but I think it still makes a decent 4-star intro book.

What do you look for in an intro book? Not just programming, but any topic? Let's make a quick list. Easy for outsiders to understand? Check. Interesting exercises that aren't over challenging for beginners? Check. No mistakes? Well, the examples with the talking cat don't escape backslashes, which I believe is the preferred practice in Python, but I guess that's good enough. Check. Reasonable coverage of material a beginner should learn (data types, loops, conditionals...)? Check. Okay, so it checks all the right boxes, where could it improve?

It's not fundamentally flawed but it seems a bit overpriced for what it delivers. I think I paid $22 for this in 2015. That's a pretty small investment to get started in a new programming language. However, it's pretty steep for this particular book given that books in that price range typically deliver maybe twice the content. Compare this with Introduction to Networking by Charles Severance, a book about the same size and aimed and a similar technical level, which I purchased this year for $10 (and arguably contains more content). I'm not suggesting the cost should be set on word count (more likely the opposite!), but that was a general feeling I had reading through it this second time. This is subjective, but I seemed to always be aware of the font size, the feeling of excessive white space padding, and at once the sense that content was too mashed together without room to breathe. Maybe another font or formatting tool would help, but the design felt closer to a tech manual than my other tutorial books. Also, it would probably be wise to put the problem solutions at the end of the book, not immediately following the question... or at least on the following page. It takes away the challenge when the solution is within range of eye drift. These aren't critical flaws, but definitely room for improvement on another edition.

There are tons of free resources on programming, especially on Python as it's one of the most popular languages of the last 10 years. If you don't mind the price tag, it's a good place to get started.
Profile Image for Alex.
4 reviews
February 15, 2017
Good source of information

If you are a very beginner, this book will be great! If you already have some experience with python(my case) you'll miss something.
It's a good asset for your knowledge, I recommend!
Profile Image for Jerrod Carter.
371 reviews5 followers
April 11, 2015
It was a very quick read for someone experienced in other programming languages. It was just an introduction and was exactly what I was looking for. If you're already familiar with object-oriented or functional programming, this should be a very quick read and give the push you'd want to get started programming in this language.

Would have liked it to cover a bit about Google App Engine, but since it wasn't advertised as doing that, no stars withheld for not doing it.
Profile Image for Monty Bates.
213 reviews18 followers
October 4, 2020
Got My Feet Wet

This is not a book to just sit down and read. It has many examples and problems for you to practice coding with Python. If you want a good starting place then I recommend this book. Jason Cannon knows his stuff inside and out and sideways too! Take your time and learn.
Profile Image for Cory Welch.
15 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2017
Covers everything nicely at an introductory level

Definitely worth it and you get a few helpful tricks along the way. Doesn't really go very deep but a good primer and decent basic reference.
Profile Image for Steven Wang.
12 reviews
April 5, 2015
Easy to understand

Easy to follow. One can learn something new even he has some experiences in python. The examples are concise and the questions after chapters all have solutions.
Profile Image for Samuel Bai.
1 review
April 2, 2016
So so beginner

Just a basically Python tutorial may take you one or two hours, it may not so useful to experienced. ;(
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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