Learn Python fundamentals that can be used in any programming setting – use the guidance in this book to program your own game in a unique and practical Python learning experience.
Learning Python opens the door to a world of programming possibilities. From AI and machine learning to video game, app, and web development, Python is a critical behind-the-scenes component of everyday technology. Python powers the services of household names like Google, Netflix, and Spotify along with tech pioneers like NASA, IBM, and Intel. Put simply, Python is the in-demand and easy-to-learn programming language that gets stuff done. In Python QuickStart Guide, senior developer and programmer Robert Oliver lays out the quickest and most accessible path yet to the mastery of Python fundamentals. Distilling his experience drawn from over two decades of working with Python and other programming languages, Robert’s clear voice and writing present a practical, hands-on approach that anyone, at any experience level, can use to become a Python programmer.
It doesn’t matter if you are a new or existing programmer, a job seeker looking for a career change or promotion, or just someone who wants to learn how to automate basic tasks with Python - Robert’s step-by-step approach, complete with a hands-on companion Python video game project, is the perfect starting point to master Python fundamentals!
Python QuickStart Guide is Perfect for:
New or experienced programmers looking to enhance their career opportunities with an in-demand programming language
Job seekers who want to supercharge their resumes and increase their value in the job marketplace
Students or recent college grads who have their sights set on a lucrative position in the tech industry
Full stack developers or programmers who need to round out their programming skills to take on new projects
Coding or programming bootcamp students looking for supplemental learning material
Anyone who wants to explore the world of programming , use Python to automate tedious tasks, or enhance their resume and future-proof their skills!
Python QuickStart Guide Explains
The best practical approach to learning Python— follow along with the exercises in the book to program your own video game and learn along the way
How to master Python building blocks and build a robust set of programming skills at your own pace
How to avoid common pitfalls new programmers face, how to debug code, and how to eliminate frustrating errors
Coding best practices that anyone can use to level up their programming skills using Python or any other programming language
You Will Learn
How to Use Python – Practical Examples, Code Snippets, Plus Follow Along to Code Your Own Game!
Python Fundamentals – How to Use Python for Web Design and Interfacing with GitHub, SQL, and Other Applications
Object-Oriented Programming Principles – Managing Data, Scripts, Logic, Inputs, Outputs, and More!
Programming Essentials – Debugging, Producing Clean Code, Best Practices, Time-Savers, and Tips
Python Next Steps –Testing, Optimization, Speed Improvements, Integrations with Other Applications, and More!
In addition to the follow-along Python game included with the exercises in the book, Python QuickStart Guide comes with a library of references and cheat sheets to help you go beyond the book and get the most out of your Python learning experience.
QuickStart Guides are books for beginners, written by experts.
Author(s): Robert Oliver
Publisher: ClydeBank Media LLC
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 396
INTRODUCTION
It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
What Is Python?
What Is Programming?
What We’ll Cover in This Book
How to Use This Book
Example Code
What You’ll Need
Operating System and Python Version Notes
Getting Ready
Visual Studio Code Walk-Through
PART I – GETTING STARTED WITH PYTHON
| 1 | Getting to Know Python
Before Our First Line of Code
Hello, World!
Working with Variables
Strings
Numbers
A Few Comments
Newlines
What’s in a Name?
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: Our First Cup
| 2 | Understanding Python Data Structures
Lists
Tuples
Sets
Dictionaries
Boolean Variables
Combining Data Structures
Picking the Right Data Structure
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: Starting the Grind
| 3 | Controlling Program Flow
Logical Comparisons
Nested Comparisons
Loops
Number-Guessing Game
ClydeBank Coffee Shop Simulator: The Circle of Life
| 4 | Handling Errors
Exceptions
Mopping Up the Mess with Finally
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: Spilt Milk
PART II – FUNCTIONS AND CLASSES
| 5 | Creating Reusable Tasks with Functions
Our First Function
Passing Values and Returning a Result
Modifying Arguments
Default Arguments
Keyword Arguments
Arbitrary Arguments
Scope
Generator Functions
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: Our First Major Refactor
| 6 | Classes
The Hello World Class
Instance Variables
Scope in Classes
Object Lifecycle
Properties and Private Variables
Inches to Centimeters
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: Our Second Refactor
| 7 | Inheritance and Design Patterns
Parent and Child
Expanding Child Classes
Multilevel Inheritance
Multiple Inheritance
Introduction to Design Patterns
A Fantasy World
| 8 | Saving Time with Dataclasses
Automatic Instance Variables
Dataclass Features
Dataclasses Compatibility
| 9 | Reusing Code with Modules and Packages
Namespaces
Importing Modules
Creating Your Own Module
Standard Modules
Packages
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: Modularizing the Game
PART III – PYTHON IN ACTION
| 10 | Advanced Strings
Standard String Operations
Regular Expressions
String Formatting
Data Compression
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: Inventory Woes
| 11 | Math in Python
Integer Math
Floating-Point Math
Percentages
Statistical Math
Date and Time
Counting the Days
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: A More Accurate Simulation
| 12 | Input and Output
Disk I/O
Standard I/O
Serialization with Pickle
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: Saving Your Game
| 13 | The Internet
Fetching a Web Page
Saving a Web Page
Sending an Email
| 14 | Debugging Python Code
Logging
Debugging in Visual Studio Code
PART IV – ADVANCED PYTHON
| 15 | Developing Websites
web.py
Flask
Connecting to a Database
Django
JSON
| 16 | Interfacing with SQLite
The sTunes Database
Installation
Running SQLite
A Brief Tour of sTunes
More SQL: Beyond SELECT
Querying Data with Python
Modifying Data with Python
Further Ideas
| 17 | Test-Driven Development
Getting Started with Unit Testing
Assertions
Test Driven Design
Test Coverage
ClydeBank Coffee Shop: Test-Driven Coffee Serving
| 18 | Managing Your Code with Git
Installing Git
Forking and Cloning the ClydeBank Coffee Shop Game
Committing Changes to Your Repository
Pushing to Remote
Using Branches
Viewing Changes
Viewing Your Commit Log
Pull Requests
Syncing with the Official Repository
| 19 | The Junk Drawer
Getting Help Inside Python
Sorting Lists and Dictionaries
Environment Variables
Using Command Line Arguments
Lambda Expressions
Threading
Cryptographic Hashing
Working with CSV Files
Pip
Compiled Modules
| 20 | Optimizing Python
Profiling
Apparent Speed Usually Matters More
Don't Reinvent the Wheel
Cache Results
Use Multiple Assignment
Exit As Soon As Possible
Use Lazy Loading
Use the Latest Python Version
Optimizing the Coffee Shop Simulator
| 21 | What's Next?
Keeping Up with Python
The Python Package Index
Python News through Google
Getting Help
Python Is Open-Source Software
The ClydeBank Coffee Shop Simulator Game
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT CLYDEBANK MEDIA
GLOSSARY
REFERENCES
