Learn to Program Using Python A Tutorial for Hobbyists, Self-Starters, and All Who Want to Learn the Art of Computer Programming

Name: Learn to Program Using Python A Tutorial for Hobbyists, Self-Starters, and All Who Want to Learn the Art of Computer Programming
Price: 6.74 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780201709384

ISBN-10: 0201709384

ISBN-13: 9780201709384

Edition: 2001

Authors: Alan Gauld

List price: $32.95

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Learn to Program Using Python is a rarity in today's marketplace: a great introduction to programming for true beginners. It started as a hugely popular Web tutorial; reflecting comments from learners worldwide, author Alan Gauld has extended it into book form, adding new material, deeper explanations, and more code examples. Gauld introduces programming through Python, an extremely popular language that's easy to start with, available on virtually every platform, and is powerful enough to serve your needs for years to come. He starts with the absolute basics: what programming is, and the character and mindset of a successful programmer. Next, he introduces the concepts of data, operations,…

Book details

List price: $32.95
Copyright year: 2001
Publisher: Addison Wesley Professional
Publication date: 12/8/2000
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 288
Size: 7.25" wide x 9.25" long x 0.75" tall
Weight: 1.342
Language: English



Preface



Introduction



Who, What, and How?


Who Is Programming For?


What Will This Book Cover?


Why Python?


How to Read This Book


How the Book Is Structured



What Do I Need?


The Human Aspects of Programming


Prerequisites


Python



What Is Programming?


A Definition


A Little History


The Common Features of All Programs



Getting Started


Using Python


A Word about Python Error Messages



Programming Fundamentals



Simple Sequences


Single Statements


Python as a Calculator


Using Format Strings


Comments


Accessing Modules



The Raw Materials


Data: A Definition


Variables: A Definition


Primitive Data Types


Collections


Advanced Data Types


Python-Specific Operators



More Sequences and Other Things


Sequences Using Variables


Calculating Areas


The Twelve Times (Multiplication) Table



Looping, or the Art of Repeating Oneself


FOR Loops


WHILE Loops


Revisiting the Twelve Times (Multiplication) Table


Looping the Loop



Decisions, Decisions


Chaining IF Statements


Combining Tests Using Boolean Expressions



Conversing with the User


Obtaining Data from a User


Command-Line Values



Modular Programming


What's a Module?


Using Functions


Using Modules


Defining New Functions


Creating Our Own Modules



Handling Files and Text


Input and Output Files


Handling Large Files


Modifying an Existing File


Appending to Files


Counting Words



A Touch of Style


More Comments


Documentation Strings


Variable Names



Handling Errors


The Traditional Way of Error Handling


The Exceptional Way of Error Handling


Generating Errors


Nesting Error Handlers


Log Files



Advanced Topics



Recursion


What Is Recursion?


Recursing over Lists



Namespaces


A Little History Lesson


Python's Approach



Object-Oriented Programming


What Is Object-Oriented Programming?


Data and Function--Together


Defining Classes


Using Classes


Same Thing, Different Thing


Inheritance



Event-Driven Programming


Simulating an Event Loop


A GUI Program



Regular Expressions


Definition


Sequences


Repetition


Conditionals


Using Regular Expressions in Python



Debugging


Stop, Look, and Think


Print


The Python Debugger


Debugging in IDLE


Some Additional Thoughts on Debugging



Designing a Solution


Understand the Problem


Consider the Options


Static versus Dynamic Design


Working within Your Environment


Testing


Configuration Management



Case Studies



Grammar Counter


Counting Lines, Words, and Characters


Counting Sentences


Turning the Pseudocode into a Module


The Final Grammar Module


Classes and Objects


Adding a GUI


Designing a GUI



Guessing Games


The Game of Hangman


Prototyping a Solution


An Object Framework


The Abstract Framework


Testing the Framework--A Simple Word Game


Text-Based Hangman


GUI Hangman


Other Ideas


Epilogue


Appendices



Installing and Testing Python


Running the Installer


Testing the Installation


Running IDLE


A Final Touch



Some Interesting Programming Languages


Python


BASIC


C/C++


Java


Object Pascal (Delphi)


Perl


Smalltalk


Interesting Alternatives



Resources


Books to Read


Web Sites to Visit


Glossary


Index


What's on the CD?