A Byte of Python

A Byte of Python

Swaroop C H

www.byteofpython.info

Version 1.20

Copyright © 2003-2005 Swaroop C H

This book is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License 2.0 .

Abstract

This book will help you to learn the Python programming language, whether you are new to computers or are an experienced programmer.

To read the latest version of this book, please see www.swaroopch.com/notes/Python.

Table of Contents

Who This Book Is For
History Lesson
Status of the book
Official Website
License Terms
Feedback
Something To Think About

1. Introduction

Introduction

Features of Python

Summary

Why not Perl?

What Programmers Say

2. Installing Python

For Linux/BSD users
For Windows Users
Summary

3. First Steps

Introduction

Using the interpreter prompt

Choosing an Editor

Using a Source File

Output
How It Works

Executable Python programs

Getting Help

4. The Basics

Literal Constants

Identifier Naming

Output
How It Works

Logical and Physical Lines

Indentation

5. Operators and Expressions

Introduction

Operator Precedence

Order of Evaluation
Associativity

Expressions

Using Expressions

6. Control Flow

Introduction

The if statement

Using the if statement
How It Works

The while statement

Using the while statement

The for loop

Using the for statement

The break statement

Using the break statement

The continue statement

Using the continue statement

7. Functions

Introduction

Defining a Function

Function Parameters

Using Function Parameters

Local Variables

Using Local Variables
Using the global statement

Default Argument Values

Using Default Argument Values

Keyword Arguments

Using Keyword Arguments

The return statement

Using the literal statement

Using DocStrings

Introduction

Using the sys module

Byte-compiled .pyc files

The from..import statement

A module's __name__

Using a module's __name__

Making your own Modules

Creating your own Modules
from..import

The dir() function

Using the dir function

9. Data Structures

Introduction

Quick introduction to Objects and Classes
Using Lists

Using Tuples
Tuples and the print statement

Using Dictionaries

Using Sequences

Objects and References

More about Strings

String Methods

10. Problem Solving - Writing a Python Script

The Problem

The Solution

First Version
Second Version
Third Version
Fourth Version
More Refinements

The Software Development Process

11. Object-Oriented Programming

Introduction

Creating a Class

object Methods

Using Object Methds

The __init__ method

Using the __init__ method

Class and Object Variables

Using Class and Object Variables

Inheritance

Using Inheritance

12. Input/Output

Using file

Pickling and Unpickling

13. Exceptions

Try..Except

Handling Exceptions

Raising Exceptions

How To Raise Exceptions

Try..Finally

Using Finally

14. The Python Standard Library

Introduction

The sys module

Command Line Arguments
More sys

The os module

15. More Python

Special Methods

Single Statement Blocks

List Comprehension

Using List Comprehensions

Receiving Tuples and Lists in Functions

Lambda Forms

Using Lambda Forms

The exec and eval statements

The assert statement

The repr function

16. What Next?

Graphical Software

Summary of GUI Tools

Explore More

A. Free/Libré and Open Source Software (FLOSS)

Colophon
About the Author

C. Revision History

Timestamp

List of Tables

5.1. Operators and their usage
5.2. Operator Precedence
15.1. Some Special Methods

List of Examples

3.1. Using the python interpreter prompt
3.2. Using a Source File
4.1. Using Variables and Literal constants
5.1. Using Expressions
6.1. Using the if statement
6.2. Using the while statement
6.3. Using the for statement
6.4. Using the break statement
6.5. Using the continue statement
7.1. Defining a function
7.2. Using Function Parameters
7.3. Using Local Variables
7.4. Using the global statement
7.5. Using Default Argument Values
7.6. Using Keyword Arguments
7.7. Using the literal statement
7.8. Using DocStrings
8.1. Using the sys module
8.2. Using a module's __name__
8.3. How to create your own module
8.4. Using the dir function
9.1. Using lists
9.2. Using Tuples
9.3. Output using tuples
9.4. Using dictionaries
9.5. Using Sequences
9.6. Objects and References
9.7. String Methods
10.1. Backup Script - The First Version
10.2. Backup Script - The Second Version
10.3. Backup Script - The Third Version (does not work!)
10.4. Backup Script - The Fourth Version
11.1. Creating a Class
11.2. Using Object Methods
11.3. Using the __init__ method
11.4. Using Class and Object Variables
11.5. Using Inheritance
12.1. Using files
12.2. Pickling and Unpickling
13.1. Handling Exceptions
13.2. How to Raise Exceptions
13.3. Using Finally
14.1. Using sys.argv
15.1. Using List Comprehensions
15.2. Using Lambda Forms


		Preface