Introduction to Python: 2018 Edition

Few programming languages provide you with the flexibility and pure power of Python.

If you're becoming a professional developer, or are early in your development career, adding the Python skill set isn't just a resume embellishment-- It's an empowering language that will allow you to write procedural code in many types of environments and for many uses.

Python is commonly used for server side programming for complex web applications or as a middle tier language providing web services or a communication layer with larger ecommerce systems. That being said, it's also a great language for beginners. The clear syntax makes it very easy to learn, and the powerful libraries make all types of programming possible. There are libraries for everything from games and graphics to complex mathematics to network and embedded programming.

Watch, Learn and Do
Programming is not a spectator sport and if you want to learn Python well, this book contains everything you need.

You'll be able to study and modify the code provided on your own to cement each topic. Python code coding lab exercises will familiarize you not just with Python syntax, but how real problem-solving in Python is done.

Table of Contents
Writing Your First Python Program-- Quick Start
Using the Shell Window
Writing Code in the Editor Window
Executing Python on the Command Line
Coding Exercise: Writing, Running and Debugging

Section Welcome: Output
The print() Function
Separators and Newlines
Coding Exercise: Using the print() function

Section Welcome: Variables
Variable Assignment
Number Variables (Int, float and complex)
String Variables
Substrings and Concatenation
Variables with Lists, Tuples and Dictionaries
Coding Exercise: Using Variables

Section Welcome: Operators
Python Mathematical Operators
Order of Operations
Python Comparison Operators
Python Logical Operators
Coding Exercise: Operators Practice

Section Welcome: Code Branching
Simple If Statements
If.... Else Statements
Nested If Statements
Ternary Operator
Coding Exercise: Conditionals

Section Welcome: Loops
While Loops
For Loops
Nested Loops
Break and Continue Statements
Coding Exercise: Loops

Section Welcome: Math Functions
Casting Functions
Mathematical Functions
Random Functions
Coding Exercise: Math Functions

Section Welcome: Python String Functions
capitalize(), center() and count()
find(), isalpha(), isdigit()
join(), len(), split()
Coding Exercise: String Functions

Section Welcome: Tuples and Dictionaries
Creating Tuples
Accessing Values in Tuples
Tuple Functions
Declaring a Dictionary
Accessing and Editing Values in Dictionaries
Dictionary Functions
Coding Exercise: Dictionaries

Section Welcome: Time and Date
The Time Tuple
The Calendar
Time and Calendar Functions
Coding Exercise: Time

Section Welcome: Python Functions
Defining and Calling a Simple Function
Required Argument Functions
Keyword Argument Functions
Default Function Arguments
Return Statement
Creating and Consuming Python Modules
Coding Exercise: Functions

Section Welcome: Input/Output
Reading Keyboard Input
Reading an External Text File
Writing an External Text File
Coding Exercise: File I/O

Section Welcome: More with Python
Handling Exceptions
Web Server Coding with Python
Processing Form Data in Python
Wrap up and Goodbye