Beginning Python: Using Python 2.6 and Python 3.1 introduces this open source, portable, interpreted, object-oriented programming language that combines remarkable power with clear syntax. This book enables you to quickly create robust, reliable, and reusable Python applications by teaching the basics so you can quickly develop Web and scientific applications, incorporate databases, and master systems tasks on various operating systems, including Linux, MAC OS, and Windows. You'll get a comprehensive tutorial that guides you from writing simple, basic Python scripts all the way through complex concepts, and also features a reference of the standard modules with examples illustrating how to implement features in the various modules. Plus, the book covers using Python in specific program development domains, such as XML, databases, scientific applications, network programming, and Web development.

As an open source, object-oriented programming language, Python is easy to understand, extendable, and user-friendly. This book covers every aspect of Python so that you can get started writing your own programs with Python today. Author James Payne begins with the most basic concepts of the Python languageplacing a special focus on the 2.6 and 3.1 versionsand he offers an in-depth look at existing Python programs so you can learn by example. Topics progress from strings, lists, and dictionaries to classes, objects, and modules. With this book, you will learn how to quickly and confidently create a robust, reliable, and reusable Python application.

Beginning Python:

• Introduces the concepts of variables for storing and manipulating data

• Examines files and input/output for reading or writing data

• Reviews examples of often-overlooked features of Python

• Delves into writing tests for modules and programs

• Addresses programming with a graphical user interface in Python

• Places special focus on XML, HTML, XSL, and related technologies

• Explains how to extend Python

• Shares numerical programming techniques

• Offers an inside look at Jython, a version of Python written in Java

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Wrox Beginning guides are crafted to make learning programming languages and technologies easier than you think, providing a structured, tutorial format that will guide you through all the techniques involved.

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Introduction xxvii

Part I: Dipping Your Toe into Python 1

Chapter 1: Programming Basics and Strings 3

How Programming is Different from Using a Computer 3

The First Steps 5

Beginning to Use Python Strings 7

Putting Two Strings Together 11

Putting Strings Together in Different Ways 12

Summary 13

Exercises 14

Chapter 2: Numbers and Operators 15

Different Kinds of Numbers 15

Program Files 18

Using Numbers 24

Summary 28

Exercises 29

Chapter 3: Variables Names for Values 31

Referring to Data Using Names for Data 31

Using More Built-in Types 34

Other Common Sequence Properties 43

Summary 47

Exercises 48

Part II: Python Language and the Standard Library 49

Chapter 4: Making Decisions 51

Comparing Values Are They the Same? 51

Doing the Opposite Not Equal 53

Comparing Values Which One Is More? 54

Reversing True and False 56

Looking for the Results of More Than One Comparison 56

Repetition 60

Handling Errors 65

Summary 67

Exercises 69

Chapter 5: Functions 71

Putting Your Program into Its Own File 71

Functions: Grouping Code under a Name 73

Layers of Functions 88

Summary 89

Exercises 90

Chapter 6: Classes and Objects 93

Thinking About Programming 93

Defining a Class 96

Summary 107

Exercises 108

Chapter 7: Organizing Programs 111

Modules 112

Packages 118

Modules and Packages 120

Basics of Testing Your Modules and Packages 124

Summary 124

Exercises 125

Chapter 8: Files and Directories 127

File Objects 127

Paths and Directories 131

Exceptions in os 132

Summary 142

Exercises 142

Chapter 9: Other Features of the Language 143

Lambda and Filter: Short Anonymous Functions 143

Map: Short-Circuiting Loops 144

Decisions within Lists List Comprehension 145

Generating Iterators for Loops 146

Special String Substitution Using Dictionaries 148

Featured Modules 149

Summary 156

Exercises 156

Chapter 10: Building a Module 157

Exploring Modules 157

Creating Modules and Packages 162

Working with Classes 163

Finishing Your Modules 166

Creating a Whole Module 179

Installing Your Modules 183

Summary 187

Exercises 188

Chapter 11: Text Processing 189

Why Text Processing Is So Useful 189

Navigating the File System with the os Module 192

Working with Regular Expressions and the re Module 199

Summary 203

Exercises 204

Part III: Putting Python to Work 205

Chapter 12: Testing 207

Assertions 208

Test Cases and Test Suites 209

Test Fixtures 213

Putting It All Together with Extreme Programming 216

Formal Testing in the Software Life Cycle 224

Summary 225

Chapter 13: Writing a GUI with Python 227

GUI Programming Toolkits for Python 228

Tkinter Introduction 229

Creating GUI Widgets with Tkinter 229

Summary 238

Exercises 238

Chapter 14: Accessing Databases 239

Working with DBM Persistent Dictionaries 240

Working with Relational Databases 245

Using the Python Database APIs 252