Tony Gaddis - Starting Out with Python, 4/e

Fourth Edition

Fourth Edition

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Gaddis, Tony, author.

Title: Starting out with Python/Tony Gaddis, Haywood Community College.

Description: Fourth edition. | Boston : Pearson, [2018] | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016058388 | ISBN 9780134444321 (alk. paper) | ISBN 0134444329 (alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Python (Computer program language)

Classification: LCC QA76.73.P98 G34 2018 | DDC 005.13/3dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016058388

1 17

ISBN 10:0-13-444432-9

ISBN 13: 978-0-13-444432-1

Location of Videonotes in the Text

Welcome to Starting Out with Python, Fourth Edition. This book uses the Python language to teach programming concepts and problem-solving skills, without assuming any previous programming experience. With easy-to-understand examples, pseudocode, flowcharts, and other tools, the student learns how to design the logic of programs then implement those programs using Python. This book is ideal for an introductory programming course or a programming logic and design course using Python as the language.

As with all the books in the Starting Out With series, the hallmark of this text is its clear, friendly, and easy-to-understand writing. In addition, it is rich in example programs that are concise and practical. The programs in this book include short examples that highlight specific programming topics, as well as more involved examples that focus on problem solving. Each chapter provides one or more case studies that provide step-by-step analysis of a specific problem and shows the student how to solve it.

Python is a fully object-oriented programming language, but students do not have to understand object-oriented concepts to start programming in Python. This text first introduces the student to the fundamentals of data storage, input and output, control structures, functions, sequences and lists, file I/O, and objects that are created from standard library classes. Then the student learns to write classes, explores the topics of inheritance and polymorphism, and learns to write recursive functions. Finally, the student learns to develop simple event-driven GUI applications.

This books clear writing style remains the same as in the previous edition. However, many additions and improvements have been made, which are summarized here:

• New sections on the Python Turtle Graphics library have been added to . The Turtle Graphics library, which is a standard part of Python, is a fun and motivating way to introduce programming concepts to students who have never written code before. The library allows the student to write Python statements that draw graphics by moving a cursor on a canvas. The new sections that have been added to this edition are:

  • : Introduction to Turtle Graphics

  • : Determining the State of the Turtle

  • : Using loops to draw designs

  • : Modularizing Turtle Graphics Code with Functions

  The new Turtle Graphics sections are designed with flexibility in mind. They can be assigned as optional material, incorporated into your existing syllabus, or skipped altogether.

• has a new section on named constants. Although Python does not support true constants, you can create variable names that symbolize values that should not change as the program executes. This section teaches the student to avoid the use of magic numbers, and to create symbolic names that his or her code more self-documenting and easier to maintain.

• has a new section on using the matplotlib package to plot charts and graphs from lists. The new section describes how to install the matplotlib package, and use it to plot line graphs, bar charts, and pie charts.

• has a new section on creating graphics in a GUI application with the Canvas widget. The new section describes how to use the Canvas widget to draw lines, rectangles, ovals, arcs, polygons, and text.