In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours will help you get started fast, master all the core concepts of programming, and build anything from websites to games. Using this book’s straightforward, step-by-step approach, you’ll move from the absolute basics through functions, objects, classes, modules, database integration, and more. Every lesson and case study application builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success!   Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Python development tasks.   Quizzes and Exercises at the end of each chapter help you test your knowledge.   Notes present interesting information related to the discussion.   Tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks.   Warnings alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them.   Learn how to… Install and run the right version of Python for your operating system Store, manipulate, reformat, combine, and organize information Create logic to control how programs run and what they do Interact with users or other programs, wherever they are Save time and improve reliability by creating reusable functions Master Python data types: numbers, text, lists, and dictionaries Write object-oriented programs that work better and are easier to improve Expand Python classes to make them even more powerful Use third-party modules to perform complex tasks without writing new code Split programs to make them more maintainable and reusable Clearly document your code so others can work with it Store data in SQLite databases, write queries, and share data via JSON Simplify Python web development with the Flask framework Quickly program Python games with PyGame Avoid, troubleshoot, and fix problems with your code    

Table of Contents:
Preface    xiv Who This Book Is For    xiv How This Book Is Organized    xiv Introduction    1 Learning to Program    1 Why Python?    2 Getting Started    2 How This Book Works    3 What to Do If You Get Stuck    3 HOUR 1  Installing and Running Python 5 Discovering Your Operating System    5 Setting Up Python on Windows    7 Setting Up Python on a Mac    11 Summary    15 Q&A    15 Workshop    16 HOUR 2  Putting Numbers to Work in Python    17 Storing Information with Variables    17 Doing Math in Python    20 Comparing Numbers    23 Applying Python Math in the Real World    24 Summary    25 Q&A    26 Workshop    26 HOUR 3  Logic in Programming    27 Using a Basic if Statement    27 Creating Blocks    28 Adding an else to an if    29 Testing Many Things with elif    30 True and False Variables.    31 Using try/except to Avoid Errors    32 Applying Logic to Real-World Problems    34 Summary    35 Q&A    35 Workshop    36 HOUR 4  Storing Text in Strings    37 Creating Strings    37 Printing Strings    38 Getting Information About a String    38 Math and Comparison    40 Formatting Strings.    42 Using Strings in the Real World    46 Summary    47 Q&A    47 Workshop    48 HOUR 5  Processing Input and Output    49 Getting Information from the Command Line    49 Getting a Password    53 Cleaning Up User Input    54 Formatting Output    55 Managing Input and Output in the Real World    57 Summary    58 Q&A    58 Workshop    58 HOUR 6  Grouping Items in Lists    61 Creating a List    61 Getting Information About a List    63 Manipulating Lists    64 Using Math in Lists    65 Ordering Lists    66 Comparing Lists    67 Using Lists in the Real World    67 Summary    68 Q&A    68 Workshop    69 HOUR 7  Using Loops to Repeat Code    71 Repeating a Set Number of Times    71 Repeating Only When True    76 Using Loops in the Real World    77 Summary    79 Q&A    79 Workshop    80 HOUR 8  Using Functions to Create Reusable Code    81 Creating a Basic Function    81 Passing Values to Functions    82 Variables in Functions: Scope    86 Grouping Functions Within a Function    88 Sending a Varying Number of Parameters    88 Using Functions in the Real World    89 Summary    92 Q&A    92 Workshop    93 HOUR 9  Using Dictionaries to Pair Keys with Values    95 Creating a Dictionary    95 Getting Information About a Dictionary    97 Comparing Dictionaries.    98 Using Dictionaries in the Real World    99 Summary    101 Q&A    101 Workshop    101 HOUR 10  Making Objects    103 Object-Oriented Programming    103 Planning an Object    107 Making Objects Out of Objects    108 Using Objects in the Real World    110 Summary    111 Q&A    111 Workshop    111 HOUR 11  Making Classes    113 Making a Basic Class Statement    113 Adding Methods to Classes    114 Setting Up Class Instances    116 Using Classes in the Real World    119 Summary    122 Q&A    122 Workshop    122 HOUR 12  Expanding Classes to Add Functionality    125 Built-in Extras    125 Class Inheritance    130 When to Expand Classes in the Real World    134 Summary    136 Q&A    136 Workshop    137 HOUR 13  Using Python’s Modules to Add Functionality    139 Python Packages    139 Using the random Module    140 Using the datetime Module    143 Finding More Modules    145 Using Modules in the Real World    146 Summary    147 Q&A    147 Workshop    148 HOUR 14  Splitting Up a Program    149 Why Split Up a Program?    149 Deciding How to Break Up Code    150 How Python Finds a Program’s Code    152 Splitting Up Code in the Real World    155 Summary    157 Q&A    157 Workshop    158 HOUR 15  Providing Documentation for Code    159 The Need for Good Documentation    159 Embedding Comments in Code    160 Explaining Code with Docstrings    162 Including README and INSTALL    164 Providing Documentation in the Real World    167 Summary    168 Q&A    168 Workshop    169 HOUR 16  Working with Program Files    171 Reading to and Writing from Files    171 Creating Files    174 Getting Information About a Directory    175 Getting Information About a File    178 Using Files in the Real World    180 Summary    181 Q&A    181 Workshop    181 HOUR 17  Sharing Information with JSON    183 The JSON Format    183 Working with JSON Files    185 Saving Objects as JSON    188 Creating Custom Dictionaries    189 Using JSON in the Real World    191 Summary    194 Q&A    194 Workshop    195 HOUR 18  Storing Information in Databases    197 Why Use Databases?    197 Talking to Databases with SQL.    198 Creating a Database    200 Querying the Database    203 Using Databases in the Real World    205 Summary    207 Q&A    207 Workshop    208 HOUR 19  Using SQL to Get More out of Databases    209 Filtering with WHERE    210 Sorting with ORDER BY    214 Getting Unique Items with DISTINCT    215 Updating Records with UPDATE    215 Deleting Records with DELETE    216 Using SQL in the Real World    217 Summary    220 Q&A    220 Workshop    221 HOUR 20  Developing for the Web with Flask    223 What Is Flask?    223 Installing Flask    225 Making Your First Flask App    228 Adding Templates    231 Using Frameworks in the Real World    237 Summary    238 Q&A    238 Workshop    239 HOUR 21  Making Games with PyGame    241 What Is PyGame?    241 Installing PyGame    242 Creating Screens    243 Creating Shapes    245 Moving Things Around on the Screen    248 Getting Input from the User    250 Drawing Text.    252 Using PyGame in the Real World    253 Summary    257 Q&A    257 Workshop    258 HOUR 22  Saving Your Code Properly Through Versioning    259 What Is Versioning?    259 Versioning with Git and GitHub    261 Managing Code in a Repository    263 Experimental Changes with Branches    267 Determining What Not to Push    270 Summary    271 Q&A    271 Workshop    271 HOUR 23  Fixing Problem Code    273 When Your Code Has a Bug    273 Locating Errors with a Traceback    274 Finding Errors with the pdb Debugger    275 Searching the Internet for Solutions    278 Trying a Fix    279 Finding Outside Support    280 Summary    282 Q&A    282 Workshop    283 HOUR 24  Taking the Next Steps with Python    285 Interesting Projects    285 Attending Conferences    288 Working with Linux    288 Contributing to Python    290 Contributing to Other Projects    290 Learning Another Language    290 Looking Forward to Python 3    291 Recommended Reading    292 Recommended Websites.    292 Summary    293 Q&A    293 Workshop    293 Index    295