Introduction to Python

Introduction to Python

A Journey Through Programming

About the Book

Introduction to Python: A Journey Through Programming is a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in learning Python or enhancing their skills. This book appeals to many readers, from beginners with no previous programming experience to intermediate programmers seeking to deepen their knowledge.

The book starts by exploring the basics of Python, such as what Python is, how to install it, and setting up the programming environment. It covers Python's language fundamentals, including variables, data types, operators, and control flow structures. Readers learn about Python's built-in collection types lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets and their usage.

As the book progresses, it delves into functions and the concept of functions as first-class objects. Following this, there is an extensive chapter on file handling in Python, explaining how to open, append, read from, and close files and best practices for managing different types of files.

In the subsequent chapters, readers learn about the modular approach in Python, including importing modules, creating custom modules, and understanding Python packages. A dedicated section for object-oriented programming details the principles of classes, objects, polymorphism, and encapsulation.

One of the most compelling features of the book is its exploration of Python's essential libraries. It covers a variety of domains, including data analysis and manipulation, data visualization, machine learning and artificial intelligence, web development, deep learning, natural language processing, and image processing.

The book's final sections guide readers through working with databases using Python, from establishing a connection to running queries and ensuring security. The book concludes with a resourceful list of additional learning resources and suggested projects for practicing Python.

Introduction to Python: A Journey Through Programming stands out for its well-structured content, practical examples, and exercises. It provides an excellent foundation for anyone aiming to master Python for personal interest or professional advancement.

About the Author

João L. R. Neto
João L. R. Neto

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Master's in Electrical Engineering from PUC Minas Gerais. Has been teaching computer programming for engineering and information systems courses for 25 (twenty-five) years. Currently, he is a distance education professor and producer of technical books. My areas of interest are scientific programming using Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing applied to production systems.

Table of Contents

    • 1 Disclaimer
    • 2 Introduction
      • 2.1 What is Python?
      • 2.2 Overview of the Book’s Structure
    • 3 Getting Started with Python
      • 3.1 Section: Installation and Setup
      • 3.2 The Programming Environment
    • 4 Python Language Fundamentals
      • 4.1 Variables and Data Types
      • 4.2 Operators
      • 4.3 Section: Control Flow Structures: conditionals and loops
    • 5 Collections in Python
      • 5.1 Lists
      • 5.2 Tuples
      • 5.3 Dictionaries
      • 5.4 Sets
    • 6 Functions in Python
      • 6.1 Functions as First-Class Objects
    • 7 Working with Files
      • 7.1 Opening a File
      • 7.2 Appending to a File
      • 7.3 Reading from a File
      • 7.4 Closing a File
      • 7.5 Working with Files using the 'with' statement
      • 7.6 Operations with various types of files
    • 8 Modules and Packages
      • 8.1 Importing Modules
      • 8.2 Creating Modules
      • 8.3 Understanding Packages in Python
    • 9 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
      • 9.1 Classes and Objects
      • 9.2 Polymorphism
      • 9.3 Encapsulation
    • 10 Essential Libraries
      • 10.1 Data Analysis and Manipulation
      • 10.2 Data Visualization
      • 10.3 Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
      • 10.4 Web Development and Scraping
      • 10.5 Deep Learning
      • 10.6 Natural Language Processing (NLP)
      • 10.7 Image Processing
    • 11 References and Additional Resources

Causes Supported

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Supporting Indigenous Peoples. Protecting the Amazon.
http://amazonwatch.org

Amazon Watch is a nonprofit organization founded in 1996 to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin. We partner with indigenous and environmental organizations in campaigns for human rights, corporate accountability and the preservation of the Amazon's ecological systems.

We envision a world that honors and values cultural and biological diversity and the critical contribution of tropical rainforests to our planet's life support system. We believe that indigenous self-determination is paramount, and see that indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contribute greatly to sustainable and equitable stewardship of the Earth. We strive for a world in which governments, corporations and civil society respect the collective rights of indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed consent over any activity affecting their territories and resources. We commit, in the spirit of partnership and mutual respect, to support our indigenous allies in their efforts to protect life, land, and culture in accordance with their aspirations and needs.

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