A Byte of Python¶

author:	Swaroop C H
copyright:	Copyright © 2003-2005 Swaroop C H
license:	Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
version:	1.20
original:	http://www.swaroopch.com/byteofpython/

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

contents [expand]

Preface
- Who This Book Is For
- History Lesson
- Status of the book
- Official Website
- License Terms
- Feedback
- Something To Think About
Chapter 1. Introduction
- Features of Python
- Why not Perl?
- What Programmers Say
Chapter 2. Installing Python
- For Linux/BSD users
  - Note
- For Windows Users
  - Caution
  - Using Python in the Windows command line
- Summary
Chapter 3. First Steps
- Using the interpreter prompt
  - Example 3.1. Using the python interpreter prompt
- How to quit the Python prompt
- Choosing an Editor
- Using a Source File
- Important
- Executable Python programs
  - Caution
- Getting Help
  - Note
- Summary
Chapter 4. The Basics
- Literal Constants
- Numbers
- Strings
- Variables
- Identifier Naming
- Data Types
- Objects
  - Note for Object Oriented Programming users
- How to write Python programs
  - Example 4.1. Using Variables and Literal constants
    - Output
    - How It Works
  - Note for C/C++ Programmers
- Logical and Physical Lines
- Indentation
  - How to indent
- Summary
Chapter 5. Operators and Expressions
- Operators
  - Table 5.1. Operators and their usage
- Operator Precedence
- Expressions
  - Using Expressions
    - Example 5.1. Using Expressions
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Summary
Chapter 6. Control Flow
- The if statement
  - Using the if statement
    - Example 6.1. Using the if statement
      - Output
      - How It Works
  - Note for C/C++ Programmers
- The while statement
  - Using the while statement
    - Example 6.2. Using the while statement
      - Output
      - How It Works
  - Note for C/C++ Programmers
- The for loop
  - Using the for statement
    - Example 6.3. Using the for statement
      - Output
      - How It Works
  - Note for C/C++/Java/C# Programmers
- The break statement
  - Using the break statement
    - Example 6.4. Using the break statement
- The continue statement
  - Using the continue statement
    - Example 6.5. Using the continue statement
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Summary
Chapter 7. Functions
- Introduction
  - Defining a Function
    - Example 7.1. Defining a function
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Function Parameters
  - Using Function Parameters
    - Example 7.2. Using Function Parameters
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Local Variables
  - Using Local Variables
    - Example 7.3. Using Local Variables
      - Output
      - How It Works
  - Using the global statement
    - Example 7.4. Using the global statement
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Default Argument Values
  - Using Default Argument Values
    - Example 7.5. Using Default Argument Values
      - Output
      - How It Works
  - Important
- Keyword Arguments
  - Using Keyword Arguments
    - Example 7.6. Using Keyword Arguments
      - Output
      - How It Works
- The return statement
  - Using the literal statement
    - Example 7.7. Using the literal statement
      - Output
      - How It Works
- DocStrings
  - Using DocStrings
    - Example 7.8. Using DocStrings
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Summary
Chapter 8. Modules
- Using the sys module
  - Example 8.1. Using the sys module
    - Output
    - How It Works
- Using a module’s __name__
  - Example 8.2. Using a module’s __name__
    - Output
    - How It Works
      - Making your own Modules
- Creating your own Modules
  - Example 8.3. How to create your own module
    - Output
    - How It Works
      - from..import
      - The dir() function
- Using the dir function
  - Example 8.4. Using the dir function
    - How It Works
      - Summary
Chapter 9. Data Structures
- List
  - Quick introduction to Objects and Classes
  - Using Lists
    - Example 9.1. Using lists
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Tuple
- Dictionary
  - Using Dictionaries
    - Example 9.4. Using dictionaries
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Sequences
  - Using Sequences
    - Example 9.5. Using Sequences
      - Output
      - How It Works
- References
  - Objects and References
    - Example 9.6. Objects and References
      - Output
      - How It Works
  - Note for Perl programmers
- More about Strings
  - String Methods
    - Example 9.7. String Methods
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Summary
Chapter 10. Problem Solving - Writing a Python Script
- The Problem
- The Solution
- The Software Development Process
  - Important
- Summary
Chapter 11. Object-Oriented Programming
- Note for C/C++/Java/C# Programmers
- The self
  - Note for C++/Java/C# Programmers
- Classes
  - Creating a Class
    - Example 11.1. Creating a Class
      - Output
      - How It Works
- object Methods
  - Using Object Methds
    - Example 11.2. Using Object Methods
      - Output
      - How It Works
- The __init__ method
  - Using the __init__ method
    - Example 11.3. Using the __init__ method
      - Output
      - How It Works
  - Note for C++/Java/C# Programmers
- Class and Object Variables
  - Using Class and Object Variables
    - Example 11.4. Using Class and Object Variables
      - Output
      - How It Works
  - Note for C++/Java/C# Programmers
- Inheritance
  - Using Inheritance
    - Example 11.5. Using Inheritance
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Summary
Chapter 12. Input/Output
- Files
  - Using file
    - Example 12.1. Using files
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Pickle
  - Pickling and Unpickling
    - Example 12.2. Pickling and Unpickling
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Summary
Chapter 13. Exceptions
- Errors
  - Try..Except
  - Handling Exceptions
    - Example 13.1. Handling Exceptions
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Raising Exceptions
  - How To Raise Exceptions
    - Example 13.2. How to Raise Exceptions
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Try..Finally
  - Using Finally
    - Example 13.3. Using Finally
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Summary
Chapter 14. The Python Standard Library
- The sys module
  - Command Line Arguments
    - Example 14.1. Using sys.argv
      - Output
      - How It Works
  - More sys
- The os module
- Summary
Chapter 15. More Python
- Special Methods
  - Table 15.1. Some Special Methods
- Single Statement Blocks
- List Comprehension
  - Using List Comprehensions
    - Example 15.1. Using List Comprehensions
      - Output
      - How It Works
- Receiving Tuples and Lists in Functions
- Lambda Forms
  - Using Lambda Forms
    - Example 15.2. Using Lambda Forms
      - Output
      - How It Works
- The exec and eval statements
- The assert statement
- The repr function
- Summary
Chapter 16. What Next?
- Graphical Software
  - Summary of GUI Tools
- Future Chapters
- Explore More
- Summary
Appendix A. Free/Libré and Open Source Software (FLOSS)
Appendix B. About
- Colophon
- About the Author
Appendix C. Revision History

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A Byte of Python¶

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