An Introduction to Python and Computer Programming

This book introduces Python programming language and fundamental concepts in algorithms and computing. Its target audience includes students and engineers with little or no background in programming, who need to master a practical programming language and learn the basic thinking in computer science/programming. The main contents come from lecture notes for engineering students from all disciplines, and has received high ratings. Its materials and ordering have been adjusted repeatedly according to classroom reception. Compared to alternative textbooks in the market, this book introduces the underlying Python implementation of number, string, list, tuple, dict, function, class, instance and module objects in a consistent and easy-to-understand way, making assignment, function definition, function call, mutability and binding environments understandable inside-out. By giving the abstraction of implementation mechanisms, this book builds a solid understanding of the Python programming language.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 An Introduction To Python And Computer Programming
Chapter 2 Using Python As A Calculator
Chapter 3 The First Python Program
Chapter 4 Branching And Looping
Chapter 5 Problem Solving Using Branches And Loops
Chapter 6 Functions
Chapter 7 Lists And Mutability
Chapter 8 Sequences, Mappings And Sets
Chapter 9 Problem Solving Using Lists And Functions
Chapter 10 Classes
Chapter 11 Summary