book

Think Python

by Allen B. Downey

August 2012

Beginner

300 pages

6h 57m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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The Strange History of This BookAcknowledgmentsContributor List
The Python Programming LanguageWhat Is a Program?What Is Debugging?Syntax ErrorsRuntime ErrorsSemantic ErrorsExperimental DebuggingFormal and Natural LanguagesThe First ProgramDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Values and TypesVariablesVariable Names and KeywordsOperators and OperandsExpressions and StatementsInteractive Mode and Script ModeOrder of OperationsString OperationsCommentsDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Function CallsType Conversion FunctionsMath FunctionsCompositionAdding New FunctionsDefinitions and UsesFlow of ExecutionParameters and ArgumentsVariables and Parameters Are LocalStack DiagramsFruitful Functions and Void FunctionsWhy Functions?Importing with fromDebuggingGlossaryExercises
TurtleWorldSimple RepetitionExercisesEncapsulationGeneralizationInterface DesignRefactoringA Development PlanDocstringDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Modulus OperatorBoolean ExpressionsLogical OperatorsConditional ExecutionAlternative ExecutionChained ConditionalsNested ConditionalsRecursionStack Diagrams for Recursive FunctionsInfinite RecursionKeyboard InputDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Return ValuesIncremental DevelopmentCompositionBoolean FunctionsMore RecursionLeap of FaithOne More ExampleChecking TypesDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Multiple AssignmentUpdating VariablesThe while StatementbreakSquare RootsAlgorithmsDebuggingGlossaryExercises

A String Is a SequencelenTraversal with a for LoopString SlicesStrings Are ImmutableSearchingLooping and CountingString MethodsThe in OperatorString ComparisonDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Reading Word ListsExercisesSearchLooping with IndicesDebuggingGlossaryExercises
A List Is a SequenceLists Are MutableTraversing a ListList OperationsList SlicesList MethodsMap, Filter, and ReduceDeleting ElementsLists and StringsObjects and ValuesAliasingList ArgumentsDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Dictionary as a Set of CountersLooping and DictionariesReverse LookupDictionaries and ListsMemosGlobal VariablesLong IntegersDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Tuples Are ImmutableTuple AssignmentTuples as Return ValuesVariable-Length Argument TuplesLists and TuplesDictionaries and TuplesComparing TuplesSequences of SequencesDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Word Frequency AnalysisRandom NumbersWord HistogramMost Common WordsOptional ParametersDictionary SubtractionRandom WordsMarkov AnalysisData StructuresDebuggingGlossaryExercises
PersistenceReading and WritingFormat OperatorFilenames and PathsCatching ExceptionsDatabasesPicklingPipesWriting ModulesDebuggingGlossaryExercises
User-Defined TypesAttributesRectanglesInstances as Return ValuesObjects Are MutableCopyingDebuggingGlossaryExercises
TimePure FunctionsModifiersPrototyping Versus PlanningDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Object-Oriented FeaturesPrinting ObjectsAnother ExampleA More Complicated ExampleThe init MethodThe __str__ MethodOperator OverloadingType-Based DispatchPolymorphismDebuggingInterface and ImplementationGlossaryExercises
Card ObjectsClass AttributesComparing CardsDecksPrinting the DeckAdd, Remove, Shuffle, and SortInheritanceClass DiagramsDebuggingData EncapsulationGlossaryExercises
GUIButtons and CallbacksCanvas WidgetsCoordinate SequencesMore WidgetsPacking WidgetsMenus and CallablesBindingDebuggingGlossaryExercises
Syntax ErrorsI Keep Making Changes and It Makes No DifferenceRuntime ErrorsMy Program Does Absolutely NothingMy Program HangsInfinite loopInfinite recursionFlow of executionWhen I Run the Program, I Get an ExceptionI Added So Many Print Statements I Get Inundated with OutputSemantic ErrorsMy Program Doesn’t WorkI’ve Got a Big Hairy Expression and It Doesn’t Do What I ExpectI’ve Got a Function or Method That Doesn’t Return What I ExpectI’m Really, Really Stuck and I Need HelpNo, I Really Need Help
Order of GrowthAnalysis of Basic Python OperationsAnalysis of Search AlgorithmsHashtables
State DiagramStack DiagramObject DiagramsFunction and Class ObjectsClass Diagrams

Overview

If you want to learn how to program, working with Python is an excellent way to start. This hands-on guide takes you through the language one step at a time, beginning with basic programming concepts before moving on to functions, recursion, data structures, and object-oriented design. Through exercises in each chapter, you’ll try out programming concepts as you learn them.