Lutz, M. (2010) Python Pocket Reference (Pocket Reference (O’Reilly)), Fourth Edition, O’Reilly Media, Inc.
A more recent edition of this book is available
Download eBook PDF (PDF 2,594KB)
This is the book to reach for when you’re coding on the fly and need an answer now. It’s an easy-to-use reference to the core language, with descriptions of commonly used modules and toolkits, and a guide to recent changes, new features, and upgraded built-ins — all updated to cover Python 3.X as well as version 2.6. You’ll also quickly find exactly what you need with the handy index.
Written by Mark Lutz — widely recognized as the world’s leading Python trainer — Python Pocket Reference, Fourth Edition, is the perfect companion to O’Reilly’s classic Python tutorials, also written by Mark: Learning Python and Programming Python.
- Built-in object types, including numbers, lists, dictionaries, and more
- Statements and syntax for creating and processing objects
- Functions and modules for structuring and reusing code
- Python’s object-oriented programming tools
- The exception-handling model
- Built-in functions, exceptions, and attributes
- Special operator overloading methods
- Widely used standard library modules and extensions
- Command-line options and development tools
- Python idioms and hints
- Chapter 1 Python Pocket Reference
- Introduction
- Conventions
- Using Code Examples
- Safari® Books Online
- Command-Line Options
- Environment Variables
- Built-in Types and Operators
- Specific Built-in Types
- Statements and Syntax
- Specific Statements
- Namespace and Scope Rules
- Object-Oriented Programming
- Operator Overloading Methods
- Built-in Functions
- Built-in Exceptions
- Built-in Attributes
- Standard Library Modules
- The sys Module
- The string Module
- The os System Module
- The re Pattern-Matching Module
- Object Persistence Modules
- The tkinter GUI Module and Tools
- Internet Modules and Tools
- Other Standard Library Modules
- Python Portable SQL Database API
- Python Idioms and Hints
Cassell, L. and Gauld, A. (2015) Python Projects, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Download eBook PDF (PDF 10,297KB)
Download Source Code from: http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-111890866X.html
Download Source Code: Chapter 1 (ZIP 6KB), Chapter 2 (ZIP 23KB), Chapter 3 (ZIP 16KB), Chapter 4 (ZIP 47KB), Chapter 5 (ZIP 9KB), Chapter 6 (ZIP 3KB)
Companion Web Site: http://learning-python.com/books/
A guide to completing Python projects for those ready to take their skills to the next level
Python Projects is the ultimate resource for the Python programmer with basic skills who is ready to move beyond tutorials and start building projects.
The preeminent guide to bridge the gap between learning and doing, this book walks readers through the “where” and “how” of real–world Python programming with practical, actionable instruction. With a focus on real–world functionality, Python Projects details the ways that Python can be used to complete daily tasks and bring efficiency to businesses and individuals alike.
Python Projects is written specifically for those who know the Python syntax and lay of the land, but may still be intimidated by larger, more complex projects. The book provides a walk–through of the basic set–up for an application and the building and packaging for a library, and explains in detail the functionalities related to the projects.
Topics include:
∗How to maximize the power of the standard library modules
∗Where to get third party libraries, and the best practices for utilization
∗Creating, packaging, and reusing libraries within and across projects
∗Building multi–layered functionality including networks, data, and user interfaces
∗Setting up development environments and using virtualenv, pip, and more
Written by veteran Python trainers, the book is structured for easy navigation and logical progression that makes it ideal for individual, classroom, or corporate training.
For Python developers looking to apply their skills to real–world challenges, Python Projects is a goldmine of information and expert insight.
Table of Contents INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: REVIEWING CORE PYTHON Exploring the Python Language and the Interpreter Reviewing the Python Data Types Numeric Types: Integer and Float The Boolean Type The None Type Collection Types Strings Bytes and ByteArrays Tuples Lists Dictionaries Sets Using Python Control Structures Structuring Your Program Using Sequences, Blocks and Comments Selecting an Execution Path Iteration Handling Exceptions Managing Context Getting Data In and Out of Python Interacting with Users Using Text Files Extending Python Defining and Using Functions Generator Functions Lambda Functions Defining and Using Classes and Objects Creating and Using Modules and Packages Using and Creating Modules Using and Creating Packages Creating an Example Package Using Third?]Party Packages Summary CHAPTER 2: SCRIPTING WITH PYTHON Accessing the Operating System Obtaining Information About Users and Their Computer Obtaining Information About the Current Process Managing Other Programs Managing Subprocesses More Effectively Obtaining Information About Files (and Devices) Navigating and Manipulating the File system Plumbing the Directory Tree Depths Working with Dates and Times Using the time Module Introducing the datetime Module Introducing the calendar Module Handling Common File Formats Using Comma?]Separated Values Working with Config Files Working with XML and HTML Files Parsing XML Files Parsing HTML Files Accessing Native APIs with ctypes and pywin32 Accessing the Operating System Libraries Using ctypes with Windows Using ctypes on Linux Accessing a Windows Application Using COM Automating Tasks Involving Multiple Applications Using Python First Using Operating System Utilities Using Data Files Using a Third?]Party Module Interacting with Subprocesses via a CLI Using Web Services for Server?]Based Applications Using a Native Code API Using GUI Robotics Summary CHAPTER 3: MANAGING DATA Storing Data Using Python Using DBM as a Persistent Dictionary Using Pickle to Store and Retrieve Objects Accessing Objects with shelve Analyzing Data with Python Analyzing Data Using Built?]In Features of Python Analyzing Data with ittertools Utility Functions Data Processing Functions Taming the Vagaries of groupby() Using itertools to Analyze LendyDB Data Managing Data Using SQL Relational Database Concepts Structured Query Language Creating Tables Inserting Data Reading Data Modifying Data Linking Data Across Tables Digging Deeper into Data Constraints Revisiting SQLite Field Types Modeling Relationships with Constraints Many?]to?]Many Relationships Migrating LendyDB to an SQL Database Accessing SQL from Python Using SQL Connections Using a Cursor Creating the LendyDB SQL Database Inserting Test Data Creating a LendyDB API Exploring Other Data Management Options Client?]Server Databases NoSQL The Cloud Data Analysis with RPy Summary CHAPTER 4: BUILDING DESKTOP APPLICATIONS Structuring Applications Building Command–Line Interfaces Building the Data Layer Building the Core Logic Layer Building the User Interface Using the cmd Module to Build a Command–Line Interface Reading Command–Line Arguments Jazzing Up the Command–Line Interface with Some Dialogs Programming GUIs with Tkinter Introducing Key GUI Principles Event?]Based Programming GUI Terminology The Containment Tree Building a Simple GUI Building a Tic?]Tac?]Toe GUI Sketching a UI Design Building Menus Building a Tic?]Tac?]Toe Board Connecting the GUI to the Game Extending Tkinter Using Tix Using ttk Revisiting the Lending Library Exploring Other GUI Toolkits for Python wxPython PyQt PyGTK Native GUIs: Cocoa and PyWin32 Dabo Storing Local Data Storing Application?]Specifi c Data Storing User?]Selected Preferences Storing Application State Logging Error information Understanding Localization Using Locales Using Unicode in Python Using gettext Summary CHAPTER 5: PYTHON ON THE WEB Python on the Web Parts of a Web Application The Client?]Server Relationship Middleware and MVC HTTP Methods and Headers What Is an API? Web Programming with Python Using the Python HTTP Modules Creating an HTTP Server Exploring the Flask Framework Creating Data Models in Flask Creating Core Flask Files More on Python and the Web Static Site Generators Web Frameworks Using Python Across the Wire XML?]RPC Socket Servers More Networking Fun in Python Summary CHAPTER 6: PYTHON IN BIGGER PROJECTS Testing with the Doctest Module Testing with the Unittest Module Test?]Driven Development in Python Debugging Your Python Code Handling Exceptions in Python Working on Larger Python Projects Releasing Python Packages Summary CHAPTER 7: EXPLORING PYTHON’S FRONTIERS Drawing Pictures with Python Using Turtle Graphics Using GUI Canvas Objects Plotting Data Using imghdr Introducing Pillow Trying Out ImageMagick Doing Science with Python Introducing SciPy Doing Bioscience with Python Using GIS Watching Your Language Getting It All Playing Games with Python Enriching the Experience with PyGame Exploring Other Options Going to the Movies The Computer Graphics Kit Modeling and Animation Photo Processing Working with Audio Integrating with Other Languages Jython IronPython Cython Tcl/Tk Getting Physical Introducing Serial Options Programming the RaspberryPi Talking to the Arduino Exploring Other Options Building Python Fixing Bugs Documenting Testing Adding Features Attending Conferences Summary APPENDIX A: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES Chapter 1 Solutions Chapter 2 Solutions Chapter 3 Solutions Chapter 4 Solutions Chapter 5 Solutions Chapter 6 Solutions Chapter 7 Solutions APPENDIX B: PYTHON STANDARD MODULES APPENDIX C: USEFUL PYTHON RESOURCES Asking Questions: Mailing Lists and More Reading Blogs Studying Tutorials and References Watching Videos And Now for Something Completely Different…
Matthes, E. (2015) Python Crash Course – A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming. No Starch Press
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Companion Web Site: https://ehmatthes.github.io/pcc/
Learn Python—Fast!
Python Crash Course is a fast-paced, thorough introduction to Python that will have you writing programs, solving problems, and making things that work in no time.
In the first half of the book, you’ll learn about basic programming concepts, such as lists, dictionaries, classes, and loops, and practice writing clean and readable code with exercises for each topic. You’ll also learn how to make your programs interactive and how to test your code safely before adding it to a project. In the second half of the book, you’ll put your new knowledge into practice with three substantial projects: a Space Invaders–inspired arcade game, data visualizations with Python’s super-handy libraries, and a simple web app you can deploy online.
As you work through Python Crash Course you’ll learn how to:
- Use powerful Python libraries and tools, including matplotlib, NumPy, and Pygal
- Make 2D games that respond to keypresses and mouse clicks, and that grow more difficult as the game progresses
- Work with data to generate interactive visualizations
- Create and customize Web apps and deploy them safely online
- Deal with mistakes and errors so you can solve your own programming problems
If you’ve been thinking seriously about digging into programming, Python Crash Course will get you up to speed and have you writing real programs fast. Why wait any longer? Start your engines and code!
Uses Python 2 and 3
Table of Contents
Introduction
PART I: Basics
Chapter 1: Getting Started
Chapter 2: Variables and Simple Data Types
Chapter 3: Introducing Lists
Chapter 4: Working with Lists
Chapter 5: if Statements
Chapter 6: Dictionaries
Chapter 7: User Input and while Loops
Chapter 8: Functions
Chapter 9: Classes
Chapter 10: Files and Exceptions
Chapter 11: Testing Your Code
PART II: Projects
Project 1: Alien Invasion
Chapter 12: A Ship that Fires Bullets
Chapter 13: Aliens!
Chapter 14: Scoring
Project 2: Data Visualization
Chapter 15: Generating Data
Chapter 16: Downloading Data
Chapter 17: Working with APIs
Project 3: Web Applications
Chapter 18: Getting Started with Django
Chapter 19: User Accounts
Chapter 20: Styling and Deploying an App
Afterword
Appendix A: Installing Python
Appendix B: Text Editors
Appendix C: Getting Help
Appendix D: Using Git for Version Control
Python Crash Course – Cheat Sheets
A cheat sheet can be really helpful when you’re trying a set of exercises related to a specific topic, or working on a project. Because you can only fit so much information on a single sheet of paper, most cheat sheets are a simple listing of syntax rules. This set of cheat sheets aims to remind you of syntax rules, but also remind you of important concepts as well.
You can download any individual cheat sheet, or download all the cheat sheets in one document.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet
- Provides an overview of the basics of Python including variables, lists, dictionaries, functions, classes, and more.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – Lists
- Focuses on lists: how to build and modify a list, access elements from a list, and loop through the values in a list. Also covers numerical lists, list comprehensions, tuples, and more.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – Dictionaries
- Focuses on dictionaries: how to build and modify a dictionary, access the information in a dictionary, and loop through dictionaries in a variety of ways. Includes sections on nesting lists and dictionaries, using an OrderedDict and more.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – If Statements and While Loops
- Focuses on if statements and while loops: how to write conditional tests with strings and numerical data, how to write simple and complex if statements, and how to accept user input. Also covers a variety of approaches to using while loops.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – Functions
- Focuses on functions: how to define a function and how to pass information to a function. Covers positional and keyword arguments, return values, passing lists, using modules, and more.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – Classes
- Focuses on classes: how to define and use a class. Covers attributes and methods, inheritance and importing, and more.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – Files and Exceptions
- Focuses on working with files, and using exceptions to handle errors that might arise as your programs run. Covers reading and writing to files, try-except-else blocks, and storing data using the json module.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – Testing Your Code
- Focuses on unit tests and test cases. How to test a function, and how to test a class.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – Pygame
- Focuses on creating games with Pygame. Creating a game window, rect objects, images, responding to keyboard and mouse input, groups, detecting collisions between game elements, and rendering text.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – matplotlib
- Focuses on creating visualizations with matplotlib. Making line graphs and scatter plots, customizing plots, making multiple plots, and working with time-based data.
- Beginner’s Python Cheat Sheet – Pygal
- Focuses on creating visualizations with Pygal. Making line graphs, scatter plots, and bar graphs, styling plots, making multiple plots, and working with global datasets.
Briggs, J. R. (2012) Python for Kids – A Playful Introduction to Programming, No Starch Press
Download eBook PDF (PDF 14,131KB)
Download Source Code (ZIP 114KB)
Download Solutions to Programming Puzzles (PDF 1,528KB)
Companion Web Site: http://jasonrbriggs.com/python-for-kids/
Python is a powerful, expressive programming language that’s easy to learn and fun to use! But books about learning to program in Python can be kind of dull, gray, and boring, and that’s no fun for anyone.
Python for Kids brings Python to life and brings you (and your parents) into the world of programming. The ever-patient Jason R. Briggs will guide you through the basics as you experiment with unique (and often hilarious) example programs that feature ravenous monsters, secret agents, thieving ravens, and more. New terms are defined; code is colored, dissected, and explained; and quirky, full-color illustrations keep things on the lighter side.
Chapters end with programming puzzles designed to stretch your brain and strengthen your understanding. By the end of the book you’ll have programmed two complete games: a clone of the famous Pong and “Mr. Stick Man Races for the Exit”—a platform game with jumps, animation, and much more.
As you strike out on your programming adventure, you’ll learn how to:
- Use fundamental data structures like lists, tuples, and maps
- Organize and reuse your code with functions and modules
- Use control structures like loops and conditional statements
- Draw shapes and patterns with Python’s turtle module
- Create games, animations, and other graphical wonders with tkinter
Why should serious adults have all the fun? Python for Kids is your ticket into the amazing world of computer programming.
For kids ages 10+ (and their parents)
The code in this book runs on almost anything: Windows, Mac, Linux, even an OLPC laptop or Raspberry Pi!
Table of Contents
About the Author and Technical Reviewers
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: Learning to Program
Chapter 1: Not All Snakes Slither
Chapter 2: Calculations and Variables
Chapter 3: Strings, Lists, Tuples, and Maps
Chapter 4: Drawing with Turtles
Chapter 5: Asking Questions with if and else
Chapter 6: Going Loopy
Chapter 7: Recycling Your Code with Functions and Modules
Chapter 8: How to Use Classes and Objects
Chapter 9: Python’s Built-In Functions
Chapter 10: Useful Python Modules
Chapter 11: More Turtle Graphics
Chapter 12: Using tkinter for Better Graphics
Part II: Bounce!
Chapter 13: Beginning Your First Game: Bounce!
Chapter 14: Finishing Your First Game: Bounce!
Part III: Mr. Stick Man Races for the Exit
Chapter 15: Creating Graphics for the Mr. Stick Man Game
Chapter 16: Developing the Mr. Stick Man Game
Chapter 17: Creating Mr. Stick Man
Chapter 18: Completing the Mr. Stick Man Game
Afterword: Where to Go from Here
Appendix: Python Keywords
Glossary