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Python 101: Interactively learn how to program with Python 3

This is a 101-level course in Python that will help you learn to program in Python for free.

Beginner

161 Lessons

10h

Certificate of Completion

This is a 101-level course in Python that will help you learn to program in Python for free.

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This course includes

222 Playgrounds

Course Overview

Course Content

Apply Your Skills

Course Overview

Welcome to Python 101! I created this course to help you learn Python 3. My objective is to get you acquainted with the building blocks of Python so that you can write something useful yourself. With interactive playgrounds to help you learn right away, I will endeavor to not only get you up to speed on the basics, but also to show you how to create useful programs. This course will be split into five parts: Part-I covers Python's basics. Part-II is a small subset of Python's Standard Library. Part-III is...Show More

Course Content

All About Strings

4 Lessons

Learn how to use strings, string methods, slicing, and formatting in Python.

Lists, Tuples and Dictionaries

4 Lessons

Look at essential Python data types: lists, tuples, and dictionaries for foundational programming.

What are we learning in this chapter?

Lists

Tuples

Dictionaries

Conditional Statements

6 Lessons

Break apart using if/elif/else, Boolean logic, and input handling for decision-making in Python.

What are conditional statements?

if __name__ == “__main__”

Loops

4 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of Python loops, including for and while loops, for repetitive tasks.

Introduction to Loops

The for Loop

The while Loop

What else is for in loops

Python Comprehensions

4 Lessons

Dig into Python comprehensions for creating lists, dictionaries, and sets efficiently.

Introduction to Comprehensions

List comprehensions

Dictionary comprehensions

Set Comprehensions

Exception Handling

5 Lessons

Investigate managing errors in Python using try/except, common exceptions, and finally/else statements.

Introduction to Exception Handling

Common Exceptions

How to Handle Exceptions

The finally Statement

try, except, or else!

Working with Files

6 Lessons

Master the steps to file handling in Python, including reading, writing, and error management.

Introduction to File Handling

How to Read a File

How To Read Files Piece by Piece

Writing Files in Python

Using the with Operator

Catching Errors in file handling

Importing

4 Lessons

Step through methods of importing Python modules to enhance your programming.

Importing python modules

import this

Using from to import

Importing Everything!

Functions

6 Lessons

Walk through creating and using Python functions, from arguments to scope and DRY principles.

Functions

Passing Arguments to a Function

Keyword Arguments

args and kwargs

A Note on Scope and Globals

Coding tip: Don't repeat yourself

10.

Classes

4 Lessons

Examine classes, self, subclasses, and creating instances for effective Python programming.

Introduction to classes in Python

Creating a Class

What is self?

Subclasses

11.

Introspection

4 Lessons

Enhance your skills in Python introspection, utilizing `dir`, `type`, and `help` functions effectively.

Introduction to Introspection

The Python Type

The Python Dir

Python Help!

12.

The CSV Module

3 Lessons

Solve problems in reading and writing CSV files using Python’s csv module effectively.

What's the CSV Module

Reading a CSV File

Writing a CSV File

13.

configparser

4 Lessons

See how to manage application settings with Python's configparser module.

Configuration files and config parser

Creating a Config File

How to Read, Update and Delete Options

How to Use Interpolation

14.

Logging

4 Lessons

Practice using Python's logging module to create, configure, and format logs effectively.

Logging in Python

Creating a Simple Logger

How to log From Multiple Modules (and Formatting too!)

Configuring Logs for Work and Pleasure

15.

The os Module

5 Lessons

Learn how to use the os module to manage directories, files, and environment variables in Python.

Python's os module

os.name

os.environ, os.getenv() and os.putenv()

Directory and file functions in Python

os.path and related functions

16.

Sending emails

4 Lessons

Get started with sending emails in Python using smtplib and email modules.

Sending email in python

Sending Multiple Emails at Once

Send email using the TO, CC and BCC lines

Add an attachment / body using the email module

17.

The SQLite Module

4 Lessons

Examine using SQLite within Python, covering database creation, updating, deleting records, and executing queries.

Getting started with SQLite in python

How to Create a Database and INSERT Some Data

Updating and Deleting Records

Basic SQLite Queries

18.

The subprocess Module

4 Lessons

Apply your skills to manage processes using Python's subprocess module efficiently.

Python's subprocess module

The call function

The Popen Class

Learning to Communicate with subprocess

19.

The sys Module

1 Lessons

Take a closer look at Python's sys module for system-specific parameters and functions.

Python's sys module

20.

The threading module

2 Lessons

Simplify complex topics like Python threading and creating responsive threaded downloaders.

Threads in Python

Writing a Threaded Downloader

21.

Working with Dates and Time

3 Lessons

Master working with Python's datetime and time modules for comprehensive date and time handling.

Date and time in Python

The datetime Module

The time Module

22.

The xml module

6 Lessons

Learn how to use Python's xml module for parsing, creating, and editing XML files.

Introduction to xml module

Working with minidom

Parsing with ElementTree

How to Create XML with ElementTree

How to Edit XML with ElementTree

How to Parse XML with ElementTree

23.

The Python Debugger

4 Lessons

Get started with Python's pdb module to debug efficiently using breakpoints and stepping through code.

Debugger module in Python

How to Start the Debugger

Stepping Through the Code

Setting breakpoints

24.

Decorators

5 Lessons

Examine how Python decorators modify function behavior, add logging, and manage class attributes.

Python Decorators

A Simple Function

Creating a Logging Decorator

Built-in Decorators

Replacing Setters and Getters with a Python property

25.

The lambda

2 Lessons

Apply your skills to leveraging lambda functions for concise, efficient coding in Python projects.

Lambda statement in Python

Tkinter + lambda

26.

Code Profiling

2 Lessons

Take a closer look at identifying and optimizing performance bottlenecks using Python's cProfile.

Introduction to Code Profiling

Profiling Your Code with cProfile

27.

An Intro to Testing

4 Lessons

Investigate testing Python code using doctest and unittest for robust and accurate programming.

doctest and unittest

Testing with doctest

Test Driven Development with unittest

Other Notes

28.

Installing Modules

5 Lessons

Master the steps to installing Python packages using source, easy_install, and pip efficiently.

Introduction to Installing packages

Installing from Source

Using easy\_install

Using pip

A Note on Dependencies

29.

ConfigObj

2 Lessons

Learn how to use ConfigObj for managing and validating Python configuration files effectively.

configobj in Python

Using a configspec

30.

Parsing XML with lxml

5 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of utilizing lxml for XML parsing and creation in Python.

What are we learning in this chapter?

Parsing XML with lxml

Parsing the Book Example

Parsing XML with lxml.objectify

Creating XML with lxml.objectify

31.

Python Code Analysis

3 Lessons

Work your way through enhancing Python code quality using pylint and pyflakes analysis tools.

pylint

Analyzing Your Code

Getting Started with pyflakes

32.

The requests package

2 Lessons

Break down complex ideas about using the requests package for HTTP requests and web forms.

What is a 'requests' package?

How to Submit a Web Form

33.

SQLAlchemy

6 Lessons

Dive into SQLAlchemy, exploring database creation, data manipulation, and executing queries with Python.

SQLAlchemy in Python

How to Create a Database

How to Insert / Add Data to Your Tables

How to Modify Records with SQLAlchemy

How to Delete Records in SQLAlchemy

The Basic SQL Queries of SQLAlchemy

34.

virtualenv

2 Lessons

Simplify complex topics on setting up and managing Python virtual environments and dependencies.

Virtual environments

Creating a Virtual Environment

35.

Creating Modules and Packages

3 Lessons

Master the steps to create and organize Python modules and packages effectively.

Introduction to Creating Modules & Packages

How to Create a Python Module

How to Create a Python Package

36.

How to Add Your Code to PyPI

4 Lessons

Learn how to use setuptools and distutils to upload Python packages to PyPI.

What's this chapter about?

Creating a setup.py File

Registering Packages

Uploading Packages to PyPI

37.

The Python egg

2 Lessons

Unpack the core of Python eggs for package distribution and management in Python.

Introduction to Python eggs

Creating an egg

38.

Python wheels

3 Lessons

Examine the significance, creation, and installation of Python wheel files.

Introduction to Python wheel

Creating a wheel

Installing a Python wheel

39.

py2exe

4 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of creating Windows executables from Python applications using py2exe.

Introduction to py2exe

Creating a Simple GUI

The py2exe setup.py file

Creating an Advanced setup.py File

40.

bbfreeze

3 Lessons

Dig into creating cross-platform Python binaries with bbfreeze for efficient distribution.

bbfreeze package

Getting Started with bbfreeze

Using bbfreeze's Advanced Configuration

41.

cx_Freeze

3 Lessons

Follow the process of creating Python executables with cx_Freeze for cross-platform use.

Introduction to cx_Freeze

Getting Started with cx_Freeze

Advanced cx_Freeze - Using a setup.py File

42.

PyInstaller

3 Lessons

Master creating standalone executables with PyInstaller, handling configurations, and integrating wxPython.

Introduction to PyInstaller

Getting Started with PyInstaller

PyInstaller and wxPython

43.

Creating an Installer

3 Lessons

Try out creating installers with GUI2Exe and Inno Setup, enabling seamless distribution.

Introduction to Creating an Installer

Getting Started with GUI2Exe

Let's Make an Installer!

Course Author

Michael Driscoll

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