Python Distilled

Expert Insight for Modern Python (3.6+) Development from the Author of Python Essential Reference

“I think it’s important that programming remains fun. I hope that my book will not only help you become a productive Python programmer but also capture some of the magic that has inspired people to use Python for exploring the stars, flying helicopters on Mars, and spraying squirrels with a water cannon in the backyard.”

The richness of modern Python challenges developers at all levels. How can programmers who are new to Python know where to begin without being overwhelmed? How can experienced Python developers know they’re coding in a manner that is clear and effective? How does one make the jump from learning about individual features to thinking in Python at a deeper level? Dave Beazley’s new Python Distilled addresses these and many other real-world issues.

Focusing on Python 3.6 and higher, this concise handbook focuses on the essential core of the language, with updated code examples to illuminate how Python works and how to structure programs that can be more easily explained, tested, and debugged. Throughout, Beazley reflects all he’s learned teaching Python to scientists, engineers, and developers, and pushing the envelope of what makes Python tick.

Rather than trying to cover every possible feature and quirk of a 30-year-old language, this pragmatic guide provides a concise narrative related to fundamental programming topics such as data abstraction, control flow, program structure, functions, objects, and modules–topics that form the foundation for Python projects of any size.

• Explore Python’s core, from variables to packages
• Solve data manipulation and analysis problems more effectively
• Structure programs with an eye towards clarity and reliability
• Control objects and master the “protocols” that define their behavior
• Master functions and functional programming idioms
• Discover the surprising power offered by generators
• Understand classes from both high-level and technical perspectives
• Plan for project growth by understanding modules and packages
• Learn techniques and abstractions for proper I/O handling
• Dicts!

“This is a pragmatic book that presents some of the most important topics about the Python programming language in a concise form, designed to make it easier to find out the most relevant information bits in a context where resources abound and frequently are just too overwhelming.” 

―Victor Domingos, Software Developer, Slim Business Solutions, The No Title® Tech Blog 

About the Author

David Beazley is the author of the Python Essential Reference, Fourth Edition (Addison-Wesley), and Python Cookbook, Third Edition (O’Reilly Media). He currently teaches advanced computer science courses through his company, Dabeaz LLC ( www.dabeaz.com). He’s been using, writing about, speaking about, and teaching Python since 1996.