Python 2.X or 3.X?
This class and its workbook apply to and teach both the
Python 2.X and 3.X lines, and students are welcome to install and use either
version in class depending on their needs and interests. By default, the class
uses the latest 3.X release and points out version differences along the way,
but this is flexible, and some workbook material is still in 2.X form.
Python 3.X is a newer version (dialect) of the language
which is not fully backward compatible with most existing 2.X software. It’s not too radically different, but most
2.X code doesn’t run under 3.X unchanged.
For instance, in 3.X printing becomes a function, strings become
Unicode, and generators are more pervasive—all concepts we'll explore in this
class. To you, this means:
●
If you'll be using 2.X-based systems or libraries
after the class (and many people today still will), you'll probably want to use
and focus on 2.X during the class.
●
If you have no 2.X legacy dependencies, 3.X is a
viable option for both this class and new code today, and is generally
recommended for students.
For more on the 2.X/3.X choice, as well as some recent 2.X
and 3.X changes that may not yet be incorporated into this workbook:
●
See the 3.X changes lists on the Advanced Topics section at the end of this
workbook, and this
online review
●
Read the overview at Python's wiki page http://wiki.python.org/moin/Python2orPython3
●
Visit the notes sections of the book updates pages
for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Editions of the book
Learning Python at web page http://learning-python.com/books/about-lp.html
●
Or simply ask during the class: we'll be exploring
some 3.X-only topics along the way.
Also see the README.txt file in
the Python folder here for more pointers on which version to install
if needed; in general, the latest Python is the best Python, unless you will
need to use an older release after the class.
About This Class
This class introduces
students to the Python programming
language, and common Python applications.
Through lectures and hands-on laboratory work, students learn the basics
of Python programming. We’ll both study
the Python
language, and survey common Python application domains such as GUIs, databases,
web sites, and system tools.
This class presents Python in
a bottom-up fashion – we start with
small details and build to larger and larger examples as we move along. This class is also designed to provide an in-depth look at Python itself, and a
general and broad survey of Python
applications – although we will study some advanced Python application domains,
we won’t have time to do full justice to most.
Specialized domains (e.g., [tT]kinter GUIs, numeric programming,
Internet scripting) can be more thoroughly covered in follow-up books and
classes.
There are no real
prerequisites for most of this course, though the last two modules on C
integration, if covered, will be more meaningful if you have basic C
programming skills. Any prior
programming or scripting experience applies, no matter how minor. For more details about this course, see the
instructor’s training webpage
(http://learning-python.com).
About the Code
Examples
The examples in
this course are based on Python versions 2.5 and later (at this writing, 2.7
and 3.5 are the latest and greatest releases).
We will look at some cutting edge new features of Python along the way;
but since later releases are generally backward compatible with earlier ones,
most of the material here should apply earlier Python releases as well.
Source code for
all the lecture examples and laboratory exercises is available on this CD. You may also cut and paste code from these
web pages, and at the end of unit web pages you will find links to source-code
file directories on this CD-ROM for exercise solutions and lecture examples.
Though this
class’s code is generally version agnostic, as of 2009 this class covers both
the Python 2.X and 3.X lines, depending on students’ needs and interests:
● When most students will use 2.X-based
software after the class, we emphasize 2.X but note 3.X differences along the
way.
● When most students have no legacy code
dependencies, we stress 3.X and note 2.X differences.
Because of this
dual-version focus, some code examples may be in 2.X or 3.X form, but will be
noted as such as appropriate for the audience (and by the time you see them,
you’ll likely know how to translate).
For more on the 2.X/3.X choice, please see the start of this page.
Suggested
Supplemental Books
Because
this class workbook is a self-contained document, there are no additional
required texts for this class. However, students may wish to obtain related
books to serve as supplemental resources. There are very many Python books and
other materials available today (you can find hundreds of Python books at
Amazon), but here are some suggestions.
Directly related books
The core language sections and
the majority of this class parallel the book Learning
Python, 5th Edition (June, 2013), and the more advanced
applications-level material in this class parallel the book Programming Python, 4th
Edition (December, 2010) both published by O’Reilly Media.
The first of these two cover
language fundamentals for both Python 2.X and 3.X. It is both based upon and helped to shape the
main portion of this class, and its core language coverage pertains to every
Python user, regardless of their intended application domains.
The latter book is an advanced
continuation of the former, and is focused on applications-level programming
topics—what you can do with Python after you’ve learned it. Its 3rd Edition used Python 2.X;
its newer 4th Edition uses Python 3.X only, but stresses concepts that span
versions.
Some
clients may wish to provide students with copies of either or both of these
texts for use after the class, depending upon student interest and skill
levels. If you need to obtain copies of
these books, they can be purchased from most large or technical bookstores,
directly from O’Reilly (see URL http://www.oreilly.com/),
or retails such as Barnes & Noble and amazon.com.
Other suggested books
Though
not required for this class, O’Reilly’s Python Pocket
Reference, 5th Edition (January, 2014) is also suggested as a
reference supplement that will prove handy after the class. This reference-only book covers both Python
2.X and 3.X, and also serves as a translation resource.
Course
Topics
Introducing Python
A brief look at history, design philosophy,
and uses
General Python introduction
Python Language
The main focus of the class, which spans
application domains
Using the interpreter
Types and operators
Basic statements
Functions
Modules
Classes
Exceptions
Built-in tools
Python Applications
Surveys of common roles, covered as time
allows and interest warrants
System interfaces
GUI programming
Databases and persistence
Text processing
Internet scripting
Extending Python in C/C++
Embedding Python in C/C++
Advanced Topics
Where to go from here?
Python resources
Daily Schedule
For
a general hourly breakdown, please see:
http://learning-python.com/python-session-schedule.pdf
Each class proceeds at a
slightly different rate, and our schedule is going to vary each day. Typically, there will four to six lectures
sessions per day, with laboratory work time after each, and an hour for
lunch. The exact session schedule
depends on student needs and interests, and on how much interaction students
require or desire; questions and comments at any time are always encouraged,
and help drive the course.
Also note that we never cover
all the material in this workbook in a 3-day class. In general, the workbook contains a superset
of topics to be presented, and some of its examples are included for student
self-study only. Material skipped is
either of minor importance, or optional reading. We may also sometimes depart from the
workbook to explore special topics of interest to students. This is your class – please ask about topics
not listed above.
About the
Instructor
Mark Lutz is a leading Python trainer, the
author of Python’s earliest and best-selling texts, and a pioneering figure in
the Python world.
Mark is the author of the three popular
O'Reilly books Learning
Python, Programming
Python, and Python Pocket
Reference, all currently in 4th or 5th
Editions. He has been using and promoting
Python since 1992, started writing Python books in 1995, and began
teaching Python classes in
1997. As of summer 2015, Mark has
instructed 260 Python training sessions; taught roughly 4,000 students in live
classes; and written Python books which have sold over 500,000 units and been
translated to at least a dozen languages.
Together, his two decades of Python efforts
have helped to establish it as one of the most widely-used programming
languages in the world today. In
addition, Mark has been in the software field for 30 years. He holds BS and MS degrees in computer
science from the University of Wisconsin where he explored implementations of
the Prolog language, and over his career has worked as a professional software
developer on compilers, programming tools, scripting applications, and assorted
client/server systems.
Mark can be reached by email at lutz@learning-python.com. He maintains two sites on the web—http://learning-python.com/books
for book support, and http://learning-python.com/training
for training—but hasn’t updated his resume in quite
some time.