Hello! Python
Full of sound practical advice.
Hello! Python fully covers the building blocks of Python programming and gives you a gentle introduction to more advanced topics such as object-oriented programming, functional programming, network programming, and program design. New (or nearly new) programmers will learn most of what they need to know to start using Python immediately.
Table of Contents detailed table of contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
About this book
About Hello! books
1. Why Python?
1.1. Learning to program
1.2. What makes Python so great?
1.3. Setting up Python for Windows
1.4. Linux
1.5. Macintosh
1.6. Troubleshooting
1.7. Text editors and IDEs
1.8. Summary
2. Hunt the Wumpus
2.1. What’s a program?
2.2. Your first program
2.3. Experimenting with your program
2.4. Making the caves
2.5. Fixing a more subtle bug
2.6. Clean up your code with functions!
2.7. Fixing the wumpus
2.8. Bows and arrows
2.9. More atmosphere
2.10. Where to from here?
2.11. Summary
3. Interacting with the world
3.1. "Batteries included": Python’s libraries
3.2. Another way to ask questions
3.3. Reading and writing files
3.4. Comparing files
3.5. Putting it all together
3.6. Testing your program
3.7. Improving your script
3.8. Where to from here?
3.9. Summary
4. Getting organized
4.1. Planning: specifying your program
4.2. How do you know your program works?
4.3. Writing the program
4.4. Putting your program together
4.5. Taking stock
4.6. Saving your work
4.7. Editing and deleting
4.8. Where to from here?
4.9. Summary
5. Business-oriented programming
5.1. Making programs talk to each other
5.2. Getting started
5.3. Downloading the page with Python
5.4. Writing out to a CSV file
5.5. Emailing the CSV file
5.6. A simple script—what could possibly go wrong?
5.7. How to deal with breaking scripts
5.8. Exceptions
5.9. Where to from here?
5.10. Summary
6. Classes and object-oriented programming
6.1. What exactly are classes?
6.2. Object-oriented design
6.3. Player input
6.4. Treasure!
6.5. Further into the caves
6.6. Here there be monsters!
6.7. Danger and excitement
6.8. Where to from here?
6.9. Summary
7. Sufficiently advanced technology…
7.1. Object orientation
7.2. Customizing classes
7.3. Generators and iterators
7.4. Using generators
7.5. Functional programming
7.6. Where to from here?
7.7. Summary
8. Django!
8.1. Writing web-based applications with Django
8.2. Writing your application
8.3. Using a model
8.4. Making use of your data
8.5. Final polishing
8.6. Where to from here?
8.7. Summary
9. Gaming with Pyglet
9.1. Installing Pyglet
9.2. First steps
9.3. Starship piloting 101
9.4. Gravity
9.5. Guns, guns, guns!
9.6. Evil aliens
9.7. Where to from here?
9.8. Summary
10. Twisted networking
10.1. Installing Twisted
10.2. Your first application
10.3. First steps with your MUD
10.4. Making the game more fun
10.5. Making your life easier
10.6. Making your world permanent
10.7. Where to from here?
10.8. Summary
11. Django revisited!
11.1. Authentication
11.2. Listing only your own todos
11.3. Testing!
11.4. Images and styles
11.5. Where to from here?
11.6. Summary
12. Where to from here?
12.1. Read some more code
12.2. Scratch your own itch
12.3. Look at more Python libraries
12.4. Summary
index
About the book
Programmers love Python because it's fast and efficient. Shouldn't learning Python be just the same? Hello! Python starts quickly and simply, with a line of Python code. You'll learn the basics the right way—by writing your own programs. Along the way, you'll get a gentle introduction to more advanced concepts and new programming styles.
What's inside
- Learn Python fast Even if you've never written a line of code before, you'll be writing real Python apps in just an hour or two.
- Great examples There's something new in every chapter, including games, web programming with Django, databases, and more.
- User Friendly guides Using lots of illustrations and a down-to-earth writing style, this book invites you to explore Python along with half-a-dozen traveling companions from the User Friendly cartoon strip.