Learn Python the Hard Way, 5th Edition

Zed A. Shaw

You Will Learn Python!

Zed Shaw has perfected the world’s best system for learning Python. Follow it and you will succeed–just like the millions of beginners Zed has taught to date! You bring the discipline, commitment, and persistence; the author supplies everything else.

In Learn Python the Hard Way, Fifth Edition, you’ll learn Python by working through 60 brilliantly crafted exercises. Read them. Type their code precisely. (No copying and pasting!) Fix your mistakes. Watch the programs run. As you do, you’ll learn how a computer works; what good programs look like; and how to read, write, and think about code.

Install a complete Python environment

Organize and write code

Fix and break code

Basic mathematics

Variables

Strings and text

Interact with users

Work with files

Looping and logic

Data structures using lists and dictionaries

Program design

Object-oriented programming

Inheritance and composition

Modules, classes, and objects

Python packaging

Automated testing

Basic data munging

Basic statistics with NumPy and SciPy

Data Analysis

It’ll be hard at first. But soon, you’ll just get it–and that will feel great!

This course will reward you for every minute you put into it. Soon, you’ll know one of the world’s most powerful, popular programming languages. You’ll be a Python programmer.

This book is perfect for

Total beginners with zero programming experience

Junior developers who know one or two languages

Returning professionals who haven’t written code in years

Seasoned professionals looking for a fast, simple, crash course in Python