Romano Fabrizio - Getting Started with Python: Understand key data structures and use Python in object-oriented programming

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First published: February 2019

Production reference: 1270219

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.
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ISBN 978-1-83855-191-9

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Fabrizio Romano holds a master's degree in computer science engineering from the University of Padova. He is also a certified scrum master, Reiki master and teacher, and a member of CNHC. He moved to London in 2011 to work for companies, such as Glasses Direct and TBG/Sprinklr. He now works at Sohonet as a principal engineer/team lead. He has given talks on Teaching Python and TDD at two editions of EuroPython, and at Skillsmatter and ProgSCon in London.

Benjamin Baka works as a software developer and considers himself to be language agnostic and seeks out the elegant solutions which his toolset of C, Java, Python, Ruby, and other languages can enable him to accomplish. With a huge interest in algorithms, he seeks to always write code that borrows from Dr. Knuth's words, both simple and elegant. He also enjoys playing the bass guitar and listening to silence. He currently works with mPedigree Network.

Dusty Phillips is a software developer and author currently living in New Brunswick. He has been active in the open source community for two decades and has been programming in Python for nearly as long. He holds a master's degree in computer science and has worked for Facebook, the United Nations, and several start-ups. He's currently researching privacy-preserving technology at beanstalk.network. Python 3 Object-Oriented Programming is his first book. He has also written Creating Apps in Kivy, and self-published Hacking Happy, a journey to mental wellness for the technically inclined. A work of fiction is coming as well, so stay tuned!

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This learning path helps you get comfortable in the world of Python. It starts with a thorough and practical introduction to Python. You'll quickly start writing programs in the first part of the learning path. With the power of linked lists, binary searches, and sorting algorithms, you'll easily create complex data structures, such as graphs, stacks, and queues. After understanding cooperative inheritance, you'll expertly raise, handle, and manipulate exceptions. You will effortlessly integrate the object-oriented and not-so-object-oriented aspects of Python, and create maintainable applications using higher level design patterns. Once you've covered the core topics, youll understand the joy of unit testing and just how easy it is to create unit tests.

By the end of this learning path, you will have built components that are easy to understand, debug, and can be used across different applications.

This learning path includes content from the following Packt products:

• Learn Python Programming - Second Edition by Fabrizio Romano
• Python Data Structures and Algorithms by Benjamin Baka
• Python 3 Object-Oriented Programming by Dusty Phillips

If you are relatively new to coding and want to write scripts or programs to accomplish tasks using Python, or if you are an object-oriented programmer for other languages and seeking a leg up in the world of Python, then this learning path is for you. Though not essential, it will help you to have basic knowledge of programming and OOP.

, A Gentle Introduction to Python, introduces you to fundamental programming concepts. It guides you through getting Python up and running on your computer and introduces you to some of its constructs.

, Built-in Data Types, introduces you to Python built-in data types. Python has a very rich set of native data types, and this chapter will give you a description and a short example for each of them.

, Iterating and Making Decisions, teaches you how to control the flow of your code by inspecting conditions, applying logic, and performing loops.

, Functions, the Building Blocks of Code, teaches you how to write functions. Functions are the keys to reusing code, to reducing debugging time, and, in general, to writing better code.

, Files and Data Persistence, teaches you how to deal with files, streams, data interchange formats, and databases, among other things.