Learning Python

Preface; I. Getting Started; 1. A Python Q&A Session; Why Do People Use Python?; Is Python a "Scripting Language"?; Okay, But What's the Downside?; Who Uses Python Today?; What Can I Do With Python?; What are Python's Technical Strengths?; How Does Python Stack-up to Language X?; 2. How Python Runs Programs; Introducing the Python Interpreter; Program Execution; Execution Model Variations; 3. How You Run Programs; Interactive Coding System Command Lines and Files; Clicking Windows File Icons Module Imports and Reloads; The IDLE User Interface; Other IDEs Embedding Calls; Frozen Binary Executables; Text Editor Launch Options; Other Launch Options; Future Possibilities?; Which Option Should I Use?; Part I Exercises; II. Types and Operations 4. Numbers; Python Program Structure; Why Use Built-in Types? Numbers; Python Expression Operators; Numbers in Action The Dynamic Typing Interlude; 5. Strings; String Literals Strings in Action; String Formatting; String Methods General Type Categories; 6. Lists and Dictionaries; Lists Lists in Action; Dictionaries; Dictionaries In Action 7. Tuples, Files, and Everything Else; Tuples; Files Type Categories Revisited; Object Generality; References Versus Copies; Comparisons, Equality, and Truth; Python's Type Hierarchies; Built-in Type Gotchas; Part Summary; Part II Exercises; III. Statements and Syntax; 8. Assignment, Expressions, and Print; Assignment Statements; Expression Statements Print Statements; 9. if Tests; if Statements; Python Syntax Rules; Truth Tests; 10. while and for Loops; while Loops break, continue, pass, and the Loop else; for Loops; Loop Variations; 11. Documenting Python Code; The Python Documentation Interlude; Common Coding Gotchas; Part Summary; Part III Exercises; IV. Functions; 12. Function Basics; Why Use Functions?; Coding Functions; A First Example: Definitions and Calls; A Second Example: Intersecting Sequences; 13. Scopes and Arguments; Scope Rules; The global Statement