Python Programming for the absolute beginner
Python Programming for the absolute beginner
by Michael Dawson
Premier
Press, 456 pages (2003)
This book really is for the absolute beginner. It assumes you know how
to use a computer and you are interested in learning how to program,
that's about it. The book leads you gently by the hand as it introduces
you to the Python programming language.
Programming concepts are introduced by writing a series of games. The
first few games are very simple. The first game is similar to the
classic "Hello, world!" program, only it prints "Game over"! The first
games are not much as entertainment but they demonstrate the use of
print, quoted strings and variables. Dawson presents material in very
small bites, but he keeps going so there is plenty of meat. He includes
enough detail so the concepts can be used and he points out the major
pitfalls.
Each new idea is introduced in the context of a working program. The
programs become increasingly complex, ranging from a simple
guess-the-number game to tic-tac-toe to an arcade game.
Along the way there are snippets of good programming practice
interjected, like how to write good variable names and why globals are
best avoided. Like the coding itself, these tips are simple but should
help a beginner get off on the right foot.
For a beginner with no previous programming experience I think Python
Programming for the absolute beginner is a good choice. Readers with
some experience in another language might find it too simple; for them,
Learning Python might be a better book.