Learning Python

Name: Learning Python
Price: 7.12 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780596002817

ISBN-10: 0596002815

ISBN-13: 9780596002817

Edition: 2nd 2004

Authors: David Ascher, Mark Lutz

List price: $39.99

30 day, 100% satisfaction guarantee!

Marketplace

4 new & used from $7.12

what's this?

Rush Rewards U
Members Receive:

You have reached 400 XP and carrot coins. That is the daily max!

Portable, powerful, and a breeze to use, Python is the popular open source object-oriented programming language used for both standalone programs and scripting applications. Python is considered easy to learn, but there's no quicker way to mastery of the language than learning from an expert teacher. The new edition of "Learning Python puts you in the hands of two expert teachers, Mark Lutz and David Ascher, whose friendly, well-structured prose has guided many a programmer to proficiency with the language. "Learning Python, Second Edition offers programmers a comprehensive learning tool for Python and object-oriented programming. Thoroughly updated for the numerous language and class…

Book details

List price: $39.99
Edition: 2nd
Copyright year: 2004
Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Publication date: 1/6/2004
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 624
Size: 7.00" wide x 8.75" long x 1.25" tall
Weight: 1.892
Language: English

David Ascher is the lead for Python projects at ActiveState, including Komodo, ActiveState's integrated development environment written mostly in Python. David has taught courses about Python to corporations, in universities, and at conferences. He also organized the Python track at the 1999 and 2000 O'Reilly Open Source Conventions, and was the program chair for the 10th International Python Conference. In addition, he co-wrote Learning Python (both editions) and serves as a director of the Python Software Foundation. David holds a B.S. in physics and a Ph.D. in cognitive science, both from Brown University.

Christopher Phillips is an educator, a freelance writer, and the founder of the non-profit Society for Philosophical Inquiry.Mark Lutz is a leading Python trainer, the author of Python's earliest and best-selling texts, and a pioneering figure in the Python world. Mark is the author of the three O'Reilly books: Learning Python, Programming Python, and Python Pocket Reference, all currently in fourth or fifth editions. He has been using and promoting Python since 1992, started writing Python books in 1995, and began teaching Python classes in 1997. As of Spring 2013, Mark has instructed 260 Python training sessions, taught roughly 4,000 students in live classes, and written Python books that…



Preface



Getting Started



A Python Q&A Session


Why Do People Use Python?


Is Python a Scripting Language?


Okay, But What's the Downside?


Who Uses Python Today?


What Can I Do with Python?


What Are Python's Technical Strengths?


How Does Python Stack Up to Language X?



How Python Runs Programs


Introducing the Python Interpreter


Program Execution


Execution Model Variations



How You Run Programs


Interactive Coding


System Command Lines and Files


Clicking Windows File Icons


Module Imports and Reloads


The IDLE User Interface


Other IDEs


Embedding Calls


Frozen Binary Executables


Text Editor Launch Options


Other Launch Options


Future Possibilities?


Which Option Should I Use?


Part I Exercises



Types and Operations



Numbers


Python Program Structure


Why Use Built-in Types?


Numbers


Python Expression Operators


Numbers in Action


The Dynamic Typing Interlude



Strings


String Literals


Strings in Action


String Formatting


String Methods


General Type Categories



Lists and Dictionaries


Lists


Lists in Action


Dictionaries


Dictionaries in Action



Tuples, Files, and Everything Else


Tuples


Files


Type Categories Revisited


Object Generality


References Versus Copies


Comparisons, Equality, and Truth


Python's Type Hierarchies


Other Types in Python


Built-in Type Gotchas


Part II Exercises



Statements and Syntax



Assignment, Expressions, and Print


Assignment Statements


Expression Statements


Print Statements



if Tests


if Statements


Python Syntax Rules


Truth Tests



while and for Loops


while Loops


break, continue, pass, and the Loop else


for Loops


Loop Variations



Documenting Python Code


The Python Documentation Interlude


Common Coding Gotchas


Part III Exercises



Functions



Function Basics


Why Use Functions?


Coding Functions


A First Example: Definitions and Calls


A Second Example: Intersecting Sequences



Scopes and Arguments


Scope Rules


The global Statement


Scopes and Nested Functions


Passing Arguments


Special Argument Matching Modes



Advanced Function Topics


Anonymous Functions: lambda


Applying Functions to Arguments


Mapping Functions Over Sequences


Functional Programming Tools


List Comprehensions


Generators and Iterators


Function Design Concepts


Function Gotchas


Part IV Exercises



Modules



Modules: The Big Picture


Why Use Modules?


Python Program Architecture


How Imports Work



Module Coding Basics


Module Creation


Module Usage


Module Namespaces


Reloading Modules



Module Packages


Package Import Basics


Package Import Example


Why Use Package Imports?


A Tale of Three Systems



Advanced Module Topics


Data Hiding in Modules


Enabling Future Language Features


Mixed Usage Modes: __name__ and __main__


Changing the Module Search Path


The import as Extension


Module Design Concepts


Module Gotchas


Part V Exercises



Classes and OOP



OOP: The Big Picture


Why Use Classes?


OOP from 30,000 Feet



Class Coding Basics


Classes Generate Multiple Instance Objects


Classes Are Customized by Inheritance


Classes Can Intercept Python Operators



Class Coding Details


The Class Statement


Methods


Inheritance


Operator Overloading


Namespaces: The Whole Story



Designing with Classes


Python and OOP


Classes as Records


OOP and Inheritance: "is-a" Relationships


OOP and Composition: "has-a" Relationships


OOP and Delegation


Multiple Inheritance


Classes Are Objects: Generic Object Factories


Methods Are Objects: Bound or Unbound


Documentation Strings Revisited


Classes Versus Modules



Advanced Class Topics


Extending Built-in Types


Pseudo-Private Class Attributes


"New Style" Classes in Python 2.2


Class Gotchas


Part VI Exercises



Exceptions and Tools



Exception Basics


Why Use Exceptions?


Exception Handling: The Short Story


The try/except/else Statement


The try/finally Statement


The raise Statement


The assert Statement



Exception Objects


String-Based Exceptions


Class-Based Exceptions


General raise Statement Forms



Designing with Exceptions


Nesting Exception Handlers


Exception Idioms


Exception Design Tips


Exception Gotchas


Core Language Summary


Part VII Exercises



The Outer Layers



Common Tasks in Python


Conversions, Numbers, and Comparisons


Manipulating Strings


Data Structure Manipulations


Manipulating Files and Directories


Internet-Related Modules


Executing Programs


Debugging, Testing, Timing, Profiling


Exercises



Frameworks


An Automated Complaint System


Interfacing with COM: Cheap Public Relations


A Tkinter-Based GUI Editor for Managing Form Data


Jython: The Felicitous Union of Python and Java


Exercises



Python Resources


Layers of Community


The Process


Services and Products


The Legal Framework: The Python Software Foundation


Software


Popular Third-Party Software


Web Application Frameworks


Tools for Python Developers



Appendixes



Installation and Configuration



Solutions to Exercises


Index