Python^™ Programming: Hands-On

Introduction to Python

• Python language characteristics
• The Python execution model
• Running statements interactively
• Application development environments

Leveraging Python Built-in Types

Manipulating string and numeric literals

• Declaring and initializing variables
• Performing arithmetic calculations
• Making decisions and performing iterations
• Formatting and slicing strings

Aggregating related data

• Accessing positional information in lists
• Representing ordered data with tuples
• Associating keys and values in dictionaries
• Consistently handling data collections with iterators

Organizing and Structuring Code

Defining and calling functions

• Positional, keyword and default arguments
• Returning values from functions
• Implementing variable-length argument lists
• Recursive and generator functions

Grouping code into modules

• Importing and reloading modules
• Referencing functions from modules by qualification
• Creating your own modules
• Combining modules into packages

Implementing Classes and Objects

Declaring and modifying objects

• Encapsulating functionality in classes
• Initializing objects with constructors
• Accessing derived data with properties
• Recognizing the role of static and class methods
• Overloading operators

Inheritance and polymorphism

• Reusing functionality through inheritance
• Defining abstract classes and interfaces
• Overriding methods for dynamic behaviour
• Tracing the scope in the namespace
• Enhancing functionality with class decorators

Manipulating the File System

Managing files

• Reading and writing text and binary files
• Importing the OS module for directory management

Increasing program robustness through handling exceptions

• Maintaining program control with error handlers
• Detecting errors and raising exceptions

Interfacing with Relational Databases

Establishing communication

• Creating a SQL database connection
• Instantiating cursors to access a database

Executing SQL statements within a Python program

• Retrieving desired data sets
• Updating the database with action statements

Constructing a GUI with Tkinter

Building the user interface

• Defining a window layout
• Placing widgets: Labels, check boxes, scroll bars
• Interacting with dialog boxes

Listening for interface events

• Providing menu items
• Responding to mouse clicks
• Capturing keyboard input
• Binding event handlers

Developing Web Applications

Analyzing the request processing pipeline

• Positioning the role of Python
• Mapping requests to Python scripts

Developing MVC with Python

• Integrating the model with a database
• Generating HTML using views
• Processing requests with Python controllers

Benefitting from the Django framework

• Improving productivity with code reduction
• Simplifying application development
• Accessing the database and producing HTML with Django templates