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Python Flash Cards Booklet - Eric Matthes

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862 views

Python Flash Cards Booklet - Eric Matthes

Uploaded by

adrimakesmusic
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

Py thon

Fl a sh Cards

Welcome to Python Flash Cards! These cards will reinforce


your learning as you begin to work with Python and think
like a programmer.
The cards cover core programming and Python concepts,
as well as basic Python syntax. This booklet will guide you
on how to use the cards and help you install Python if you
haven’t already. Additional resources are available at
https://nostarch.com/pythonflashcards/.
W h y Use Py thon?
Python is one of the most popular programming languages
in the world, and for good reason. Python has simple syntax
that encourages you to write efficient, readable code, so
you can concentrate on how to solve problems. Python is
also concise, making it easier to write programs and to
maintain them.
Python has a rich ecosystem of stable libraries intended
for a wide variety of uses, such as data visualization, web
development, application development, and more. For a
given problem, there’s a good chance someone has already
written a Python library you can use. The Python community
is also very welcoming to beginners, and you’ll often find
someone willing to help you out if you get stuck.

W h at’s in the Cards?


The cards are split into two categories:

• Concept and vocabulary cards


• Syntax cards

Concep t and Vocabul ary


Cards
Programmers use a lot of terminology, and knowing these
words will help you think and communicate more clearly.
Most of these cards present concepts without code so you
can focus on the big ideas without getting into the syntax.
A solid grounding in concepts will help you learn Python
more efficiently, and these concepts generally apply to other
languages as well. Even if you’re already starting to learn
some more advanced syntax, reviewing basic concepts can
be immensely helpful.

Sy nta x Cards
In order to write code that works, you need to learn the
syntax of a language. These cards show syntax examples
in different forms depending on how the information is best
conveyed: as code from a Python terminal session, snippets
from a full program, or tables.

How to Use the Cards


You’ll probably figure out your own best way to use the
cards, but I can offer a couple of tips:

• Pick out the cards on the topics you’re currently work-


ing on and carry them around with you. It’s some-
times easier to review a small set of cards, especially
when you aren’t able to pull out a computer and prac-
tice coding there and then. When you do get back to
coding, you’ll find it easier to write code efficiently.
• Ask yourself the questions on the front of the card
and see how well your answers match the informa-
tion on the back. If you can consistently answer the
questions correctly, you can put that card into your
“learned” pile.
Installing Py thon
Some operating systems come preloaded with Python, but
it’s often an outdated version. If you haven’t already done
so, install the latest version of Python before you start using
the cards. Python Flash Cards will work for any version of
Python 3.

Py thon on W indows
Download the installer for your system from https://python
.org/downloads/. Run the installer, and make sure to check
the Add Python 3.x to your PATH box. This will ensure your
installation of Python is ready to use.
To start using Python, open a terminal (enter terminal
into the search box on your taskbar) and then enter python
at the terminal prompt. You should see a Python prompt
appear that looks like this: >>>. Enter the text in bold from
the following example, and you should see the output
appear below it:
>>> print("Hello, Python world!")
Hello, Python world!

To get back to the regular Windows prompt and out of


Python, press ctrl-Z and then enter.

Py thon on m acOS
You can use the package manager Homebrew to install the
latest version of Python on macOS.
First, install Homebrew: visit the project’s home page at
https://brew.sh/ and follow the directions you see there.
Homebrew might inform you of additional requirements,
which you should also install.
With Homebrew installed, install the latest version of
Python by opening the terminal and entering this command:
$ brew install python

The latest version of Python should install. To check


exactly which version was installed, enter the following:
$ python3 --version

You should see output showing the version you installed.


To use Python, open a terminal and enter python3. You
should see a Python prompt (>>>) appear. To test it, enter
the following:
>>> print("Hello, Python world!")
Hello, Python world!

Press control-D to get back to a regular terminal prompt.

Py thon on Linu x
Python comes installed on most Linux systems, but you’ll
probably want to install a more recent version. On APT-
based systems such as Ubuntu, you can use the deadsnakes
package to do this by entering the following commands into
the terminal:
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install python3.7
To start a Python terminal session and test it, enter the
following:
$ python3.7
>>> print("Hello, Python world!")
Hello, Python world!

Press ctrl-D to get back to a regular terminal prompt.

Py thon E x amples
When the examples on the cards are based in the terminal,
they will appear like this, where the code you enter comes
after the >>> prompt:
>>> print("Hello, Python world!")
Hello, Python world!

The output will appear just below the code, without a


prompt. You probably won’t see colored syntax highlight-
ing when you enter code in a terminal, but it’s used on the
cards to clarify syntax. For longer programs, you’ll want
to install a text editor, such as Sublime Text or Atom, or
a Python IDE (integrated development environment), such
as PyCharm. When examples are from longer programs,
they’ll appear like this:
message = "Hello, Python world!"
print(message)

The output will usually appear in a separate section


below the code, like this:
Hello, Python world!
Ne x t Steps
Here are some resources to help you learn more advanced
Python concepts and start using Python for real-world
projects.

• Python documentation  The official Python docu-


mentation (https://docs.python.org/ ) is an excellent
resource. The Tutorial and Library Reference links are
great places to start your exploration. Search for topics
using the search box at the top of the home page.
• Books  A wide variety of books are available on
Python in general and for specific kinds of work. No
Starch Press has a good collection (https://nostarch
.com/catalog/python/ ).
• Online resources  Python bloggers are another great
resource. Official documentation for major libraries
such as Django and matplotlib can be very useful, too.
• Python community groups and events  The Python
community is diverse and strong, and you’ll find
Python gatherings all over the world. Search for a
local Python user group to visit or attend one of the
larger PyCon events. Events almost always offer some-
thing for both new and experienced Python users.
• Your own projects  Once you’re familiar with the
basics, start building your own projects. This lets you
practice what you’ve learned in real-world contexts,
pushes you to learn new techniques and concepts,
and stretches the limits of what you’re capable of.
Reach out to others in the community when you get
stuck—and have fun!
A bout the Py thon Fl a sh Cards
You can use the cards in this box to study Python concepts
and syntax. You’ll find nine sets of cards:

1  Concep t s and Vocabul ary


2 Simple Data T y pes
3 List s and Tuples
4 Dic tion aries
5  Condition al Statement s
6 Func tions
7 Cl a sses
8 Testing
9 Pack ages

Python Flash Cards. Copyright © 2019 by Eric Matthes.


Publisher: William Pollock Technical Reviewer: Kenneth Love
Production Editor: Riley Hoffman Copyeditors: Anne Marie Walker and
Developmental Editor: Liz Chadwick Barton D. Reed
Designer: Mimi Heft Proofreader: Paula L. Fleming

For information on distribution, translations, or bulk sales,


please contact No Starch Press, Inc. directly:
No Starch Press, Inc.
245 8th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
phone: 1.415.863.9900; [email protected]; www.nostarch.com

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