Matt Harrison - Illustrated Guide to Python 3: A Complete Walkthrough of Beginning Python with Unique Illustrations Showing how Python Really Works

Technical Editors: Roger A. Davidson, Andrew McLaughlin

Version: Oct 2, 2017

Copyright 2017

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assumes no responsibility for errors oromissions, or for damages resulting from the use of theinformation contained herein.

Are you ready to jumpstart your Python programming career? This book willarm you with years of knowledge and experience that are condensed into aneasy to follow format. Rather than taking months reading blogs,websites, and searching mailing lists and groups, this book will allowa programmer to quickly become knowledgeable and comfortable with Python.

Programming is fun and Python makes it delightful. Basic Python is notonly easy, but approachable for all ages. I have taught elementarystudents, teenagers, industry professionals and golden years folksthe Python programming language. If you are willing to read and type,you are about to begin an exciting path. Where it ultimatelytakes you depends on how hard you are willing to work.

There are different levels of Python. Basic Python syntax is smalland easy to learn. Once you master basic Python, doors will open toyou. You should be able to read a lot of Python and understandit. From there, you can learn more advanced topics, specifictoolkits, start contributing to open source projects written inPython, or use that knowledge to learn other programming languages.

A recommended approach for learning the language is to read a chapterand then sit down at a computer and type out some of the examplesfound in the chapter. Python makes it easy to get started, eliminatingmuch of the hassle found in running programs in otherlanguages. The temptation will likely be to merely read the book. Byjumping in and actually typing the examples you will learn a lot morethan by just reading.

Python is booming! It is the top language being taught inuniversities. Python developers are among the highest paid.With the boom in data science, Python is quickly becomingone of the most desired skills for analytics. Operations arealso adopting Python to manage their backend systems. Theyare discovering what web developers using Python have knownfor a long time; namely, that Python will make you productive.

Python has crossed the tipping point. No longer are only small, agile startupsrelying on it. Looking to take advantage of its power and efficiency,enterprises have also converged on Python. Over the past year, I've taughtPython to hundreds of seasoned developers with years of experience at largecompanies, who are moving to Python.

Python enables increased productivity. I came to Python as a Perl programmer. Atwork, I was assigned to a team with a co-worker who was well versed in Tcl.Neither of us wanted to jump ship though both of us were interested inlearning Python. In 3 days our prototype was completed, much fasterthan we expected, and we both promptly forgot our previous gotolanguage. What appealed to me about Python was that it fit my brain. Ifirmly believe if you have some experience in programming, you canlearn the basics of Python in a few days.

Python is easy to learn. For beginning programmers, Python is a greatstepping stone. Learning to write simple programs is pretty easy,yet Python also scales up to complex enterprise systems. Python alsoscales with ageI have personally seen people from 7-80+ learn basicprogramming skills using Python.

This book will focus on Python 3. Python 2 has served us well overthe years. The Python Software Foundation, which manages releases of thelanguage, has stated that Python 2 is coming to an end. As such,after 2020 they will no longer support the language.

Python 3, has been out for a bit nowand is somewhat backward incompatible with the 2 series. For green fielddevelopment, you should move forward with Python 3. If you have legacysystems on Python 2, do not fret. In fact, most of the content inthis book is perfectly applicable to Python 2. If you want to focuson Python 2, check out the prior version of this book.

Python 3 is not installed on most platforms. Some Linux distributions shipwith it, but Windows and Mac users will need to install it.

For Windows folks, go to the download area of the Python website and find a link that says Python 3.6 Windows Installer. This will link toa .msi file that will install Python on your Windows machine. Downloadthe file, open it by double-clicking it, and follow theinstructions to finish the installation.

Note

On the Windows installer there is an option labeled "Add Python to PATH".Please make sure it is checked. That way, when you run python from thecommand prompt, it will know where to find the Python executable. Otherwise,you can go to System properties (click WIN+Pause, or run environ from the start menu), Advanced system settings, and click on theEnvironment Variables button. There you can update the PATH variable by addingthe following:

If you have UAC (User Account Control) enabled on Windows, then path is: