James R. Parker - Python: An Introduction to Programming

PYTHON

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James R. Parker. PYTHON: An Introduction to Programming.
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Contents

Preface

This book is intended to teach introductory programming. Material is included for the introductory computer science course, but also for students and readers in science and other disciplines. I firmly believe that programming is an essential skill for all professionals and especially academics in the 21 st century and have emphasized that in the content discussed in the book.

The book uses a just-in-time approach, meaning that I try to present new information just before or just after the reader needs it. As a result, there are numerous examples, carefully selected to fit into their proper places in the text. Not too soon, and not too late.

I believe in object-oriented programming. My masters thesis in the late 1970s was on that subject, cut my teeth on Simula , was there when C++ was created, and knew the creator of Java. I do not believe that object-oriented programming is the only solution, though, and realized early that good objects can only be devised by someone who can already program. I am therefore not an objects first instructor, but a whatever works best instructor.

Many of the examples involve computer games and game development. As we know, the majority of undergraduate students play games. They understand them better than, say, accounting or inventory systems, which have been the typical early assignments. I believe in presenting students assignments that are interesting.

I dont think that catering to any particular language form in an introductory text serves the student or the language. The student, if sensible, will learn other languages. Bringing Python idioms into play too soon may interfere with the generality of the ideas being presented and will not assist the student when learning Java, C++, or Ruby.

This book introduces a multimedia code module Glib that can assist the programmer with graphics, animation, sound, interaction, and video. Glib is included on the companion disc or can be downloaded from the books web site. The basic library, static Glib , needs nothing but a standard 3.4 or better installation of Python. It uses tkinter as a basis, which is distributed with the language. The expanded library uses pygame , and that is easily downloaded and installed. The extended Glib , called dynamic Glib , allows exactly the same interface as does static Glib, but extends it to also include sound, interface, and video. Thus, if static Glib compiles and runs a program, then dynamic Glib should too.

There is a wiki concerning the book at https://sites.google.com/site/pythonparker/ and I am happy to receive comments, code fixes, extensions, extra teaching material, and general suggestions. I see a good textbook as a community, and encourage everyone especially first year students, the target audience of this book - to send me their experiences and ideas.

Software (any computer program) is ubiquitous. Cars, phones, refrigerators, television, (and almost everything in our society) are computerized. Decisions made about how a program is to be built tend to survive, and even after many modifications, they can affect how people use that device or system. Creating efficient software helps in achieving a productive and happy civilization.

Python is a great language for beginning programmers. It is easy to write the first programs, because the conceptual overhead is small. That is, theres no need to understand what void or public means at the outset. Python does many things for a programmer. Do you want something sorted? Its a part of the language. Lists and hash tables (dictionaries) are a part of the language. You can write classes, but do not have to, so it can be taught objects first or not. The required indentation means that it is much harder to place code incorrectly in loops or if statements. There are hundreds of reasons why Python is a great idea.