Python 101: Learn the Python Basics in 14 Days

Length: 254 pages
Edition: 1
Language: English
Publisher: Nerd Challenges LLC
Publication Date: 2021-12-20
ISBN-10: B09NXYW2RK
Sales Rank: #0 (See Top 100 Books)

Python 101: Learn the Python Basics in 14 Days is your beginner’s guide to becoming a Python coder in just 14 days. This book is for anyone wanting to learn to become a programmer but unsure how to get started. Python 101 makes learning quick and easy by teaching you only the essentials needed to start programming. Time is of the essence, so why waste it learning arbitrary concepts not required to achieve your goal? This book is structured to accommodate your everyday busy life. Throughout the 14 days, you will be exposed to the fundamentals to become a beginner Python programmer. There are several mini-projects and challenges along the way to reinforce your understanding of each lesson. Each day builds upon previous days to help your progression in building Python programming skills.

Below is a glance at the fundamental skills you’ll discover in your 14-day endeavor:

✓ Create variables of all data types and assign values
✓ Generate lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries
✓ Perform math calculations and create a calculator program
✓ Compare values, variables, and conditions using operators
✓ Take in user inputs and provide responses
✓ Make decisions using if-else statements, while, and for loops
✓ Handling errors by exceptions that would typically cause a program to crash or halt
✓ Learning to use third party libraries to build applications faster
✓ Read and create text files using Python
✓ Create Classes and Objects as an introduction to Object-Oriented Programming

There are three Nerd Challenges in the book, a Nerd Challenge is a small project based task that allows you to use concepts learned about previously in a bigger project:

Create a text based calculator
Debugging a broken program
Create a Graphical User Interface (GUI) based calculator

If you are looking for a beginner Python book, that will keep you on task and stick to the fundamentals, this is your book.

Foreword
Preface
    Is this the right book for you?
    Solution code
    Book Schedule
    Reading Time
    Code Snippets and Important Terms
    Code Example
    Code Example with Comments
    Terminal Output
    Other resources
Acknowledgement
Errata / Contacting Us
Feedback and Reviews
Introduction
    What is Python?
    Why Python?
    Advantages
    Disadvantages
    When not to use Python
    What can you build with Python?
1. Day 1: Installing Python, Variables and Comments
    Python Installation
    Installing Python on Windows
    Installing Python on macOS
    Installing Python on Linux (Specifically Ubuntu 20.04)
    PyCharm Installation
    Installing PyCharm on Windows
    Installing PyCharm on macOS
    Installing PyCharm on Linux
    A Note about IDEs
    Hello World!
    Introduction to Variables in Python
    Understanding Variables
    Naming variables
    Data Types
    Print Statements
    Introduction to Comments
    Q&A Review
    Day 1 Challenges
2. Day 2: Exploring Data Types
    Lists
    Tuples
    Sets
    Dictionaries
    Type Casting
    Implicit Type Conversion
    Explicit Type Conversion
    Q&A Review
    Day 2 Challenges
3. Day 3: Operators
    Arithmetic Operators
    Assignment Operators
    Bitwise Operators
    Comparison Operators
    Identity Operators
    Logical Operators
    Membership Operators
    Q&A Review
    Day 3 Challenges
4. Day 4: User Interaction
    Q&A Review
    Day 4 Challenges
5. Day 5: If-Else Statements, While, and For Loops
    If-Else Statements
    While Loops
    For Loops
    Q&A Review
    Day 5 Challenges
6. Day 6: Try-Exceptions
    Try and Except Blocks
    Else Clauses and Finally
    Raise
    Q&A Review
    Day 6 Challenges
7. Day 7: Nerd Challenge 1
    Part 1: Implement Overall Requirements
    Part 2: Set up the calculator
    Solution
8. Day 8: Functions
    Built-in Functions
    User-defined Functions
    Creating Functions
    Using User-defined Functions
    Q&A Review
    Day 8 Challenges
9. Day 9: Modules & Packages
    Environment Setup
    Modules
    Importing Modules
    Creating Modules
    Python Community Modules
    Python pip (Package Manager)
    Installing Community Modules
    Using PySimpleGUI package
    Q&A Review
    Day 9 Challenges
10. Day 10: Working with Files
    Read Files
    Access Modes
    Append to Files
    Append One File to Another
    Write
    Create Files
    Delete Files
    Delete Folders/Directories
    Q&A Review
    Day 10 Challenges
11. Day 11: Debugging
    Breakpoints
    Running the debugger
    Watchers
    Adding a Watcher
    Stepping through your code
    Step Over
    Step Into
    Step Into My Code
    Step Out
    Stopping the debugger
    Q&A Review
    Nerd Challenge 2: Debugging a file
    Buggy File: `day-11-nerd-challenge.py`
    Solution
    Solution File: `day-11-nerd-challenge-solution.py`
12. Day 12: Classes and Objects
    Python Classes
    Objects
    Constructing Classes
    Methods
    Q&A Review
    Day 12 Challenges
13. Day 13: Requests Library
    HTTP Methods
    HTTP Response Status Codes
    Installing requests
    Sending your first GET request
    Sending your first POST request
    Sending your first GET request, again
    Sending your first POST request, for real this time
    DELETE your blog post
    Recap Day 13
    Q&A Review
    Day 13 Challenges
14. Day 14: Nerd Challenge 3 - Advanced GUI Calculator
    Import the module
    Program Greeting
    Design the layout
    Window
    Event Loop
    Conclusion
15. Day 15: Bonus Day - Building a Website with GatsbyJS
    Setting up your environment
    Installing VS Code
    Windows Setup
    MacOS Setup
    Linux Setup
    Installing Curl
    Windows Setup
    MacOS Setup
    Linux Setup
    Installing git (and Homebrew if MacOS)
    Windows Setup
    MacOS Setup
    Linux Setup
    Installing Node.js
    Windows Setup
    You should see something similar to the following
    MacOS Setup
    Linux Setup
    Installing Gatsby CLI
    Hello World with GatsbyJS v4
    Updating the Home page
    Creating a new link
    Q&A Review
    Day 15 Challenges
    It’s been fun!
Solutions to Q&A
    Day 1 - Installing Python Answers
    Day 2 - Data Types
    Day 3 - Operators
    Day 4 - User Interaction
    Day 5 - If-Else Statements
    Day 6 - Try-Exceptions
    Day 8 - Functions
    Day 9 - Modules & Packages
    Day 10 - Working with Files
    Day 11 - Debugging
    Day 12 - Classes and Objects
    Day 13 - Requests Library
    Day 15 - Bonus Day - Building a Website with GatsbyJs
About the Author