Beginning Programming with Python For Dummies

Introduction

Quick! Which programming language will get you up and running writing applications on every popular platform around? Give up? Yes, it’s Python. The amazing thing about Python is that you really can write an application on one platform and use it on every other platform that you need to support. Unlike the other programming languages that promised to provide platform independence, Python really does make that independence possible. In this case, the promise is as good as the result you get.

Python emphasizes code readability and a concise syntax that lets you write applications using fewer lines of code than other programming languages require. In addition, because of the way Python works, you find it used in all sorts of fields that are filled with nonprogrammers. Some people view Python as a scripted language, but it really is so much more. (Chapter 18 provides you with just an inkling of the occupations that rely on Python to make things work.)

About This Book

Beginning Programming with Python For Dummies is all about getting up and running with Python quickly. You want to learn the language fast so that you can become productive in using it to perform your real job, which could be anything. Unlike most books on the topic, this one starts you right at the beginning by showing you what makes Python different from other languages and how it can help you perform useful work in a job other than programming. As a result, you gain an understanding of what you need to ...