Introducing Python

Bill Lubanovic started developing software with Unix in the 1970s, GUIs in the 1980s, and the Web in the 1990s. He now does web visualization work for a wind energy company.

Chapter 1A Taste of Py
Python in the Real World
Python versus Language X
So, Why Python?
When Not to Use Python
Python 2 versus Python 3
Installing Python
Running Python
Your Moment of Zen
Things to Do
Chapter 2Py Ingredients: Numbers, Strings, and Variables
Variables, Names, and Objects
Numbers
Strings
Things to Do
Chapter 3Py Filling: Lists, Tuples, Dictionaries, and Sets
Lists and Tuples
Lists
Tuples
Dictionaries
Sets
Compare Data Structures
Make Bigger Data Structures
Things to Do
Chapter 4Py Crust: Code Structures
Comment with #
Continue Lines with \
Compare with if, elif, and else
Repeat with while
Iterate with for
Comprehensions
Functions
Generators
Decorators
Namespaces and Scope
Handle Errors with try and except
Make Your Own Exceptions
Things to Do
Chapter 5Py Boxes: Modules, Packages, and Programs
Standalone Programs
Command-Line Arguments
Modules and the import Statement
Packages
The Python Standard Library
More Batteries: Get Other Python Code
Things to Do
Chapter 6Oh Oh: Objects and Classes
What Are Objects?
Define a Class with class
Inheritance
Override a Method
Add a Method
Get Help from Your Parent with super
In self Defense
Get and Set Attribute Values with Properties
Name Mangling for Privacy
Method Types
Duck Typing
Special Methods
Composition
When to Use Classes and Objects versus Modules
Things to Do
Chapter 7Mangle Data Like a Pro
Text Strings
Binary Data
Things to Do
Chapter 8Data Has to Go Somewhere
File Input/Output
Structured Text Files
Structured Binary Files
Relational Databases
NoSQL Data Stores
Full-Text Databases
Things to Do
Chapter 9The Web, Untangled
Web Clients
Web Servers
Web Services and Automation
Things to Do
Chapter 10Systems
Files
Directories
Programs and Processes
Calendars and Clocks
Things to Do
Chapter 11Concurrency and Networks
Concurrency
Networks
Things to Do
Chapter 12Be a Pythonista
About Programming
Find Python Code
Install Packages
Integrated Development Environments
Name and Document
Testing Your Code
Debugging Python Code
Debug with pdb
Logging Error Messages
Optimize Your Code
Source Control
Clone This Book
How You Can Learn More
Coming Attractions
Appendix Py Art
2-D Graphics
Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)
3-D Graphics and Animation
Plots, Graphs, and Visualization
Games
Audio and Music
Appendix Py at Work
The Microsoft Office Suite
Carrying Out Business Tasks
Processing Business Data
Python in Finance
Business Data Security
Maps
Appendix Py Sci
Math and Statistics in the Standard Library
Scientific Python
NumPy
The SciPy Library
The SciKit Library
The IPython Library
Pandas
Python and Scientific Areas
Appendix Install Python 3
Install Standard Python
Install Anaconda
Install and Use pip and virtualenv
Install and Use conda
Appendix Answers to Exercises
Chapter 1, A Taste of Py
Chapter 2, Py Ingredients: Numbers, Strings, and Variables
Chapter 3, Py Filling: Lists, Tuples, Dictionaries, and Sets
Chapter 4, Py Crust: Code Structures
Chapter 5, Py Boxes: Modules, Packages, and Programs
Chapter 6, Oh Oh: Objects and Classes
Chapter 7, Mangle Data Like a Pro
Chapter 8, Data Has to Go Somewhere
Chapter 9, The Web, Untangled
Chapter 10, Systems
Chapter 11, Concurrency and Networks
Appendix Cheat Sheets
Operator Precedence
String Methods
String Module Attributes
Fin