Learning Python, 5th Edition

Get a comprehensive, in-depth introduction to the core Python language with this hands-on book. Based on author Mark Lutzs popular training course, this updated fifth edition will help you quickly write efficient, high-quality code with Python. Its an ideal way to begin, whether youre new to programming or a professional developer versed in other languages. Complete with quizzes, exercises, and helpful illustrations, this easy-to-follow, self-paced tutorial gets you started with both Python 2.7 and 3.3 the latest releases in the 3.X and 2.X linesplus all other releases in common use today. Youll also learn some advanced language features that recently have become more common in Python code. Explore Pythons major built-in object types such as numbers, lists, and dictionaries Create and process objects with Python statements, and learn Pythons general syntax model Use functions to avoid code redundancy and package code for reuse Organize statements, functions, and other tools into larger components with modules Dive into classes: Pythons object-oriented programming tool for structuring code Write large programs with Pythons exception-handling model and development tools Learn advanced Python tools, including decorators, descriptors, metaclasses, and Unicode processing