In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours will help you get started fast, master all the core concepts of programming, and build anything from websites to games. Using this book’s straightforward, step-by-step approach, you’ll move from the absolute basics through functions, objects, classes, modules, database integration, and more. Every lesson and case study application builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success!
Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Python development tasks.
Quizzes and Exercises at the end of each chapter help you test your knowledge.
Notes present interesting information related to the discussion.
Tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks.
Warnings alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them.
Learn how to…
- Install and run the right version of Python for your operating system
- Store, manipulate, reformat, combine, and organize information
- Create logic to control how programs run and what they do
- Interact with users or other programs, wherever they are
- Save time and improve reliability by creating reusable functions
- Master Python data types: numbers, text, lists, and dictionaries
- Write object-oriented programs that work better and are easier to improve
- Expand Python classes to make them even more powerful
- Use third-party modules to perform complex tasks without writing new code
- Split programs to make them more maintainable and reusable
- Clearly document your code so others can work with it
- Store data in SQLite databases, write queries, and share data via JSON
- Simplify Python web development with the Flask framework
- Quickly program Python games with PyGame
- Avoid, troubleshoot, and fix problems with your code
Table of Contents:
Preface xiv
Who This Book Is For xiv
How This Book Is Organized xiv
Introduction 1
Learning to Program 1
Why Python? 2
Getting Started 2
How This Book Works 3
What to Do If You Get Stuck 3
HOUR 1 Installing and Running Python 5
Discovering Your Operating System 5
Setting Up Python on Windows 7
Setting Up Python on a Mac 11
Summary 15
Q&A 15
Workshop 16
HOUR 2 Putting Numbers to Work in Python 17
Storing Information with Variables 17
Doing Math in Python 20
Comparing Numbers 23
Applying Python Math in the Real World 24
Summary 25
Q&A 26
Workshop 26
HOUR 3 Logic in Programming 27
Using a Basic if Statement 27
Creating Blocks 28
Adding an else to an if 29
Testing Many Things with elif 30
True and False Variables. 31
Using try/except to Avoid Errors 32
Applying Logic to Real-World Problems 34
Summary 35
Q&A 35
Workshop 36
HOUR 4 Storing Text in Strings 37
Creating Strings 37
Printing Strings 38
Getting Information About a String 38
Math and Comparison 40
Formatting Strings. 42
Using Strings in the Real World 46
Summary 47
Q&A 47
Workshop 48
HOUR 5 Processing Input and Output 49
Getting Information from the Command Line 49
Getting a Password 53
Cleaning Up User Input 54
Formatting Output 55
Managing Input and Output in the Real World 57
Summary 58
Q&A 58
Workshop 58
HOUR 6 Grouping Items in Lists 61
Creating a List 61
Getting Information About a List 63
Manipulating Lists 64
Using Math in Lists 65
Ordering Lists 66
Comparing Lists 67
Using Lists in the Real World 67
Summary 68
Q&A 68
Workshop 69
HOUR 7 Using Loops to Repeat Code 71
Repeating a Set Number of Times 71
Repeating Only When True 76
Using Loops in the Real World 77
Summary 79
Q&A 79
Workshop 80
HOUR 8 Using Functions to Create Reusable Code 81
Creating a Basic Function 81
Passing Values to Functions 82
Variables in Functions: Scope 86
Grouping Functions Within a Function 88
Sending a Varying Number of Parameters 88
Using Functions in the Real World 89
Summary 92
Q&A 92
Workshop 93
HOUR 9 Using Dictionaries to Pair Keys with Values 95
Creating a Dictionary 95
Getting Information About a Dictionary 97
Comparing Dictionaries. 98
Using Dictionaries in the Real World 99
Summary 101
Q&A 101
Workshop 101
HOUR 10 Making Objects 103
Object-Oriented Programming 103
Planning an Object 107
Making Objects Out of Objects 108
Using Objects in the Real World 110
Summary 111
Q&A 111
Workshop 111
HOUR 11 Making Classes 113
Making a Basic Class Statement 113
Adding Methods to Classes 114
Setting Up Class Instances 116
Using Classes in the Real World 119
Summary 122
Q&A 122
Workshop 122
HOUR 12 Expanding Classes to Add Functionality 125
Built-in Extras 125
Class Inheritance 130
When to Expand Classes in the Real World 134
Summary 136
Q&A 136
Workshop 137
HOUR 13 Using Python’s Modules to Add Functionality 139
Python Packages 139
Using the random Module 140
Using the datetime Module 143
Finding More Modules 145
Using Modules in the Real World 146
Summary 147
Q&A 147
Workshop 148
HOUR 14 Splitting Up a Program 149
Why Split Up a Program? 149
Deciding How to Break Up Code 150
How Python Finds a Program’s Code 152
Splitting Up Code in the Real World 155
Summary 157
Q&A 157
Workshop 158
HOUR 15 Providing Documentation for Code 159
The Need for Good Documentation 159
Embedding Comments in Code 160
Explaining Code with Docstrings 162
Including README and INSTALL 164
Providing Documentation in the Real World 167
Summary 168
Q&A 168
Workshop 169
HOUR 16 Working with Program Files 171
Reading to and Writing from Files 171
Creating Files 174
Getting Information About a Directory 175
Getting Information About a File 178
Using Files in the Real World 180
Summary 181
Q&A 181
Workshop 181
HOUR 17 Sharing Information with JSON 183
The JSON Format 183
Working with JSON Files 185
Saving Objects as JSON 188
Creating Custom Dictionaries 189
Using JSON in the Real World 191
Summary 194
Q&A 194
Workshop 195
HOUR 18 Storing Information in Databases 197
Why Use Databases? 197
Talking to Databases with SQL. 198
Creating a Database 200
Querying the Database 203
Using Databases in the Real World 205
Summary 207
Q&A 207
Workshop 208
HOUR 19 Using SQL to Get More out of Databases 209
Filtering with WHERE 210
Sorting with ORDER BY 214
Getting Unique Items with DISTINCT 215
Updating Records with UPDATE 215
Deleting Records with DELETE 216
Using SQL in the Real World 217
Summary 220
Q&A 220
Workshop 221
HOUR 20 Developing for the Web with Flask 223
What Is Flask? 223
Installing Flask 225
Making Your First Flask App 228
Adding Templates 231
Using Frameworks in the Real World 237
Summary 238
Q&A 238
Workshop 239
HOUR 21 Making Games with PyGame 241
What Is PyGame? 241
Installing PyGame 242
Creating Screens 243
Creating Shapes 245
Moving Things Around on the Screen 248
Getting Input from the User 250
Drawing Text. 252
Using PyGame in the Real World 253
Summary 257
Q&A 257
Workshop 258
HOUR 22 Saving Your Code Properly Through Versioning 259
What Is Versioning? 259
Versioning with Git and GitHub 261
Managing Code in a Repository 263
Experimental Changes with Branches 267
Determining What Not to Push 270
Summary 271
Q&A 271
Workshop 271
HOUR 23 Fixing Problem Code 273
When Your Code Has a Bug 273
Locating Errors with a Traceback 274
Finding Errors with the pdb Debugger 275
Searching the Internet for Solutions 278
Trying a Fix 279
Finding Outside Support 280
Summary 282
Q&A 282
Workshop 283
HOUR 24 Taking the Next Steps with Python 285
Interesting Projects 285
Attending Conferences 288
Working with Linux 288
Contributing to Python 290
Contributing to Other Projects 290
Learning Another Language 290
Looking Forward to Python 3 291
Recommended Reading 292
Recommended Websites. 292
Summary 293
Q&A 293
Workshop 293
Index 295
About the Author :
Katie Cunningham is a Python developer at Cox Media Group. She’s a fervent advocate for Python, open source software, and teaching people how to program. She’s a frequent speaker at open source conferences, such as PyCon and DjangoCon, speaking on beginners’ topics such as someone’s first site in the cloud and making a site that is accessible to everyone.
She also helps organize PyLadies in the DC area, a program designed to increase diversity in the Python community. She has taught classes for the organization, bringing novices from installation to writing their first app in 48 hours.
Katie is an active blogger at her website (http://therealkatie.net ), covering issues such as Python, accessibility, and the trials and tribulations of working from home.
Katie lives in the DC area with her husband and two children.
