Begin to Code with Python

681 Pages·2017·14.17 MB·English

by  Rob Miles

Begin to Code with Python
Begin
B
e
Become a Python programmer—and have fun doing it! About This Book
g
Start writing software that solves real problems, even if you have i
absolutely no programming experience! This friendly, easy, full-color • F or absolute beginners who’ve never n to Code
written a line of code
book puts you in total control of your own learning, empowering you to
• F or anyone who’s been frustrated with t
build unique and useful programs. Microsoft has completely reinvented
other beginning programming books o
the beginning programmer’s tutorial, reflecting deep research into
or courses
how today’s beginners learn, and why other books fall short. Begin to
C
Code with Python is packed with innovations, from its “Snaps” prebuilt • F or people who’ve started out with
operations to its “Make Something Happen” projects. Whether you’re other languages and now want to o
with
a total beginner or you’ve tried before, this guide will put the power, learn Python
d
excitement, and fun of programming where it belongs: in your hands! • W orks with Windows PC, Apple Mac,
e
Linux PC, or Raspberry Pi
Easy, friendly, and you’re in control! Learn how to… • I ncludes mapping of MTA exam
w
• Get, install, and use powerful free tools to create modern Python objectives that are covered in this book, Python
programs as well as an appendix with further i
t
• Learn key concepts from 170 sample programs, and use them to explanation of some of the topics h
on the exam
jumpstart your own

• Discover exactly what happens when a program runs P
• Approach program development with a professional perspective About the Author
y
• Learn the core elements of the Python language
t
Rob Miles has taught computer
• Build more complex software with classes, methods, and objects h
programming for over 30 years.
• Organize programs so they’re easy to build and improve A Microsoft MVP for Windows o
• Capture and respond to user input Development, Rob enjoys inspiring
n
• Store and manipulate many types of real-world data programmers at all levels. He writes his
• Define custom data types to solve specific problems own games, programs, and poetry, has
• Create interactive games that are fun to play consulted on many commercial software
projects, and is the author of Begin to
• Build modern web and cloud-based applications
Code with C#.
• Use pre-built libraries to quickly create powerful software
Get code samples, including complete apps, at:
Miles
https://aka.ms/BegintoCodePython/downloads
MicrosoftPressStore.com U.S.A. $39.99
Canada $49.99
ISBN-13: 978-1-5093-0452-3 [Recommended]
ISBN-10: 1-5093-0452-5
5 3 9 9 9 Programming/Python
Rob Miles
9 781509 304523
9781509304523_Miles_Begin_to_Code_Python_Cover.indd All Pages 10/30/17 3:35 PM
Begin
to Code
with
Python
Rob Miles
BEGIN TO CODE WITH PYTHON Editor-in-Chief
Published with the authorization of Microsoft Corporation by: Greg Wiegand
Pearson Education, Inc.
Senior Acquisitions Editor
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education, Inc. Laura Norman
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assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability Valerie Haynes Perry
assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information
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contained herein.
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ISBN-13: 978-1-5093-0452-3
Technical Editor
ISBN-10: 1-5093-0452-5
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2017958202
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1 17
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the “Trademarks” webpage are trademarks of the Microsoft group of
companies. All other marks are property of their respective owners. Compositor
"Python" and the Python logos are trademarks or registered trade- Danielle Foster
marks of the Python Software Foundation, used by Pearson Education
with permission from the Foundation.
WARNING AND DISCLAIMER
Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as
accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The infor-
mation provided is on an “as is” basis. The author, the publisher, and
Microsoft Corporation shall have neither liability nor responsibility
to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising
from the information contained in this book or from the use of the
programs accompanying it.
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To Mary
About the
author
Rob Miles has spent more than 30 years teach-
ing programming at the University of Hull in
the United Kingdom. He’s a Microsoft MVP,
with a passion for programming, and creating
new things. If he had any spare time, he’d spend
it writing even more code. He loves making
programs and then running them to see what
happens. He reckons that programming is the
most creative thing you can learn how to do.
He believes that programmers really can claim to be building the future.
He claims to know a lot of really good jokes, but nobody has ever heard
him tell one. If you want an insight into the Wacky World™ of Rob Miles,
you can read his blog at www.robmiles.com and follow him on Twitter via
@RobMiles.
[email protected]
Contents at a glance
Part 1: Programming fundamentals
Chapter 1 Starting with Python . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 2 Python and Programming .......................... 16
Chapter 3 Python program structure .......................... 44
Chapter 4 Working with variables ............................. 72
Chapter 5 Making decisions in programs ...................... 104
Chapter 6 Repeating actions with loops ....................... 140
Chapter 7 Using functions to simplify programs ............... 170
Chapter 8 Storing collections of data ......................... 210
Part 2: Advanced programming
Chapter 9 Use classes to store data .......................... 264
Chapter 10 Use classes to create active objects ................. 308
Chapter 11 Object-based solution design ...................... 372
Chapter 12 Python applications ............................... 438
Part 3: Useful Python (Digital-only)
The chapter PDF files for this Part are available at
https://aka.ms/BeginCodePython/downloads.
Chapter 13 Python and Graphical User Interfaces .............. 488
Chapter 14 Python programs as network clients ............... 548
Chapter 15 Python programs as network servers ................ 570
Chapter 16 Create games with Pygame ........................ 592
v
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Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xviii
Part 1: Programming fundamentals
1
Starting with Python . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
What is Python? ............................................... 4
Python origins ......................................... 5
Python versions ....................................... 5
Build a place to work with Python .............................. 6
Get the tools .......................................... 6
Python for Windows PC ................................ 7
Start Python ................................................. 10
What you have learned ....................................... 14
2
Python and Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
What makes a programmer ................................... 18
Programming and party planning ..................... 18
Give us feedback
Tell us what you think of this book and help
Microsoft improve our products for you.
Thank you!
http://aka.ms/tellpress
vii
Programming and problems .......................... 19
Programmers and people ............................. 21
Computers as data processors ................................. 22
Machines and computers and us ....................... 22
Programs as data processors .......................... 24
Python as a data processor ............................ 25
Data and information ......................................... 31
Work with Python functions ................................... 36
The ord function ..................................... 36
The chr function ..................................... 38
Investigate data storage using bin ..................... 39
What you have learned ....................................... 41
3
Python program structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Write your first Python program ............................... 46
Run Python programs using IDLE ...................... 46
Get program output using the print function ......... 51
Use Python libraries .......................................... 57
The random library ................................... 57
The time library ...................................... 60
Python comments ............................................ 61
Code samples and comments ......................... 62
Run Python from the desktop ................................. 63
Delay the end of the program ......................... 64
Adding some snaps ........................................... 64
Adding the Pygame library ............................ 65
Snaps functions ....................................... 66
What you have learned ....................................... 70
viii
4
Working with variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Variables in Python ........................................... 74
Python names ........................................ 76
Working with text ............................................ 79
Marking the start and end of strings ................... 81
Escape characters in text .............................. 82
Read in text using the input function .................. 84
Working with numbers ........................................ 87
Convert strings into integer values ..................... 87
Whole numbers and real numbers ..................... 89
Real numbers and floating-point numbers ............. 90
Convert strings into floating-point values .............. 95
Perform calculations .................................. 96
Convert between float and int ...................... 98
Weather snaps .............................................. 101
What you have learned ...................................... 102
5
Making decisions in programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Boolean data ................................................ 106
Create Boolean variables ............................. 106
Boolean expressions ................................. 109
Comparing values .................................... 111
Boolean operations .................................. 114
The if construction ......................................... 118
Nesting if conditions ................................ 127
Working with logic .................................. 128
Use decisions to make an application ......................... 129
Design the user interface ............................. 129
Implement a user interface ........................... 130
ix