Learn Enough Python to Be Dangerous

Description

Michael Hartl created the legendary Ruby on Rails™ Tutorial that helped jumpstart thousands of web development careers. A cofounder and principal author at Learn Enough, Hartl previously earned a Ph.D. in physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is also an alumnus Harvard University and the world-renowned Y Combinator entrepreneur program.

“Just started the #100DaysOfCode journey. Today marks day 1. I have completed @mhartl’s great Ruby tutorial at @LearnEnough and am looking forward to starting on Ruby on Rails from tomorrow. Onwards and upwards.”
–Optimize Prime (@_optimize), Twitter post

“Ruby and Sinatra and Heroku, oh my! Almost done with this live web application. It may be a simple palindrome app, but it’s also simply exciting! #100DaysOfCode #ruby @LearnEnough #ABC #AlwaysBeCoding #sinatra #heroku”
–Tonia Del Priore (@toninjaa), Twitter post; Software Engineer for a FinTech Startup for 3+ years

“I have nothing but fantastic things to say about @LearnEnough courses. I am just about finished with the #javascript course. I must say, the videos are mandatory because @mhartl will play the novice and share in the joy of having something you wrote actually work!”
–Claudia Vizena

“I must say, this Learn Enough series is a masterpiece of education. Thank you for this incredible work!”
–Michael King

“I want to thank you for the amazing job you have done with the tutorials. They are likely the best tutorials I have ever read.”
–Pedro Iatzky

Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xvii
About the Author xix

Chapter 1: Hello, World! 1
1.1 Introduction to Python 6
1.2 Python in a REPL 11
1.3 Python in a File 13
1.4 Python in a Shell Script 16
1.5 Python in a Web Browser 18

Chapter 2: Strings 35
2.1 String Basics 35
2.2 Concatenation and Interpolation 38
2.3 Printing 44
2.4 Length, Booleans, and Control Flow 46
2.5 Methods 56
2.6 String Iteration 62

Chapter 3: Lists 69
3.1 Splitting 69
3.2 List Access 71
3.3 List Slicing 74
3.4 More List Techniques 77
3.5 List Iteration 83
3.6 Tuples and Sets 86

Chapter 4: Other Native Objects 91
4.1 Math 91
4.2 Times and Datetimes 97
4.3 Regular Expressions 103
4.4 Dictionaries 109
4.5 Application: Unique Words 115

Chapter 5: Functions and Iterators 121
5.1 Function Definitions 121
5.2 Functions in a File 130
5.3 Iterators 138

Chapter 6: Functional Programming 149
6.1 List Comprehensions 150
6.2 List Comprehensions with Conditions 156
6.3 Dictionary Comprehensions 159
6.4 Generator and Set Comprehensions 163
6.5 Other Functional Techniques 165

Chapter 7: Objects and Classes 169
7.1 Defining Classes 169
7.2 Custom Iterators 176
7.3 Inheritance 179
7.4 Derived Classes 183

Chapter 8: Testing and Test-Driven Development 191
8.1 Package Setup 192
8.2 Initial Test Coverage 197
8.3 Red 209
8.4 Green 214
8.5 Refactor 220

Chapter 9: Shell Scripts 231
9.1 Reading from Files 231
9.2 Reading from URLs 240
9.3 DOM Manipulation at the Command Line 245

Chapter 10: A Live Web Application 255
10.1 Setup 256
10.2 Site Pages 263
10.3 Layouts 271
10.4 Template Engine 280
10.5 Palindrome Detector 293
10.6 Conclusion 316

Chapter 11: Data Science 319
11.1 Data Science Setup 320
11.2 Numerical Computations with NumPy 327
11.3 Data Visualization with Matplotlib 338
11.4 Introduction to Data Analysis with pandas 353
11.5 pandas Example: Nobel Laureates 361
11.6 pandas Example: Titanic 377
11.7 Machine Learning with scikit-learn 386
11.8 Further Resources and Conclusion 403

Index 405

Master all you need tostart writing modern Python code, even if you’ve never coded before

• All the concepts, skills, andapproaches you need, without the obscure details you’ll never need
• Learn Python and softwaredevelopment best practices from the outset
• Get started with Python webdevelopment as you deploy a simple Flask app to the live web
• Use Python in data science –one of its most exciting and popular applications
• Focused exercises andbehind-the-scenes insights – all in full color
• Prepares you to collaboratewith developers and succeed on development teams

All You Need to Know, and Nothing You Don’t, to Solve Real Problems with Python

Python is one of the most popular programming languages in the world, used for everything from shell scripts to web development to data science. As a result, Python is a great language to learn, but you don’t need to learn “everything” to get started, just how to use it efficiently to solve real problems. In Learn Enough Python to Be Dangerous, renowned instructor Michael Hartl teaches the specific concepts, skills, and approaches you need to be professionally productive.

Even if you’ve never programmed before, Hartl helps you quickly build technical sophistication and master the lore you need to succeed. Hartl introduces Python both as a general-purpose language and as a specialist tool for web development and data science, presenting focused examples and exercises that help you internalize what matters, without wasting time on details pros don’t care about. Soon, it’ll be like you were born knowing this stuff–and you’ll be suddenly, seriously dangerous.

Learn enough about . . .

• Applying core Python concepts with the interactive interpreter and command line
• Writing object-oriented code with Python’s native objects
• Developing and publishing self-contained Python packages
• Using elegant, powerful functional programming techniques, including Python comprehensions
• Building new objects, and extending them via Test-Driven Development (TDD)
• Leveraging Python’s exceptional shell scripting capabilities
• Creating and deploying a full web app, using routes, layouts, templates, and forms
• Getting started with data-science tools for numerical computations, data visualization, data analysis, and machine learning
• Mastering concrete and informal skills every developer needs

Michael Hartl’s Learn Enough Series includes books and video courses that focus on the most important parts of each subject, so you don’t have to learn everything to get started–you just have to learn enough to be dangerous and solve technical problems yourself.

Like this book? Don’t miss Michael Hartl’s companion video tutorial, Learn Enough Python to Be Dangerous LiveLessons.

Register your book for convenient access to downloads, updates, and/or corrections as they become available. See inside book for details.

Additional information

Dimensions	0.88 × 7.00 × 9.13 in
Series	Learn Enough
Imprint	Addison-Wesley Professional
Format	gen
ISBN-13	09780138050955
ISBN-10	0138050953
Author	Michael Hartl
Subjects	professional, higher education, Employability, IT Professional, Y-AM DATABASES