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Daniel Arbuckle???s Mastering Python
Daniel Arbuckle???s Mastering Python

Daniel Arbuckle???s Mastering Python: Build powerful Python applications

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Daniel Arbuckle???s Mastering Python

Setting Up

In the previous chapter, we took a brief tour of the Python programming language. In this chapter, we will look at various ways to download and install the correct version of Python, then we will see how to run Python code. In the last couple of sections of this chapter, we'll see how to begin taking advantage of the wide variety of publicly available Python code that can be found on the internet.

The topics covered in this chapter are as follows:

  • Downloading and installing Python
  • Using the command line and the interactive shell
  • Installing packages with pip
  • Finding packages in the Python package index

Downloading and installing Python

The topic of this section is downloading and installing the Python runtime and standard library. For this, let's first take a look at the download page, https://www.python.org/, which is, of course, the authoritative place to find Python. You will learn a little bit about which versions of Python exist and the one we should choose for this book. Then, we'll move on to how to set up Python for this book. Finally, we'll check that everything worked the way we wanted.

Before we can really begin working with Python, we need to make sure we've got the language interpreter and libraries properly installed. The first step for that is to decide which version of the language to install.

Choosing a suitable version

...

Using the command line and the interactive shell

Since, we looked at installing Python, let's try our hand at making Python actually do things using the textual interface.

Text-based user interfaces are very useful to programmers; they provide a quick and easy way to interact with programs while they're in development, experiment with code (which is, after all, text), and access documentation.

Opening a command-line window

How you open a command-line window depends on the operating system you're using.

  • On Windows 7, open the Start menu and type CMD into the Run box.
  • In Windows 8, press the Windows key and then type CMD and select Command Prompt.
  • On Windows 10, press the Windows key and select Command Prompt...

Installing packages with pip

In this section, we'll take a look at using Python's package manager to install and manage third-party code, and now, it's back to the operating system command line for us. We'll see how to easily install third-party code from the Python Package Index.

While Python comes with batteries included, that is, the Python standard library that's already installed contains a wide range of very useful features, there's still plenty of things it doesn't do. Odds are though that somebody somewhere has already invented the wheel for us and if so, we can probably find it in the Python Package Index.

The pip tool for packages

Python, from version 3.4 onwards, is installed with...

Finding packages in the Python Package Index

Earlier, we talked about installing packages from the Python Package Index, but what if we don't have a specific package we need to install? What if we just need a library to help us get the job done, but don't know which specific one we need? Well, as the name of the section implies, the Python Package Index is actually an index of packages, which classifies the packages according to a number of parameters. The index is conveniently hosted at https://pypi.python.org/pypi. We could search the available packages in a number of ways. Let's discuss it in detail.

Using keywords

Perhaps, the most useful way of accessing the index is to simply type keywords into the search...

Summary

In this chapter, we learned how to install Python and get to a place where we can begin working on real code. We looked at running Python in a command-line window and using it to perform experiments and calculations. We examined how to make the best of Python's command line and its extensive help library.

We learned about installing, uninstalling, and upgrading the packages using pip. We also got a pretty good idea of how to find third-party code to help us move our projects along, using the Python Package Index.

In the next chapter, we'll work through the steps to create and work with our own Python code packages.

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Key benefits

  • • Covers the latest and advanced concepts of Python such as parallel processing with Python 3.6
  • • Explore the Python language from its basic installation and setup to concepts such as reactive programming and microservices
  • • Get introduced to the mechanism for rewriting code in a compiled language along with ctypes and Cython tools

Description

Daniel Arbuckle's Mastering Python covers the basics of operating in a Python development environment, before moving on to more advanced topics. Daniel presents you with real-world solutions to Python 3.6 and advanced-level concepts, such as reactive programming, microservices, ctypes, and Cython tools. You don't need to be familiar with the Python language to use this book, as Daniel starts with a Python primer. Throughout, Daniel highlights the major aspects of managing your Python development environment, shows you how to handle parallel computation, and helps you to master asynchronous I/O with Python 3.6 to improve performance. Finally, Daniel will teach you the secrets of metaprogramming and unit testing in Python, helping you acquire the perfect skillset to be a Python expert. Daniel will get you up to speed on everything from basic programming practices to high-end tools and techniques, things that will help set you apart as a successful Python programmer.

Who is this book for?

If you are a programmer and are familiar with the basics of Python, and you want to broaden your knowledge base to develop projects better and faster, this book is for you. Even if you are not familiar with Python, Daniel Arbuckle's Mastering Python starts with the basics and takes you on a journey to become an expert in the technology.

What you will learn

  • Get to grips with the basics of operating in a Python development environment
  • Build Python packages to efficiently create reusable code
  • Become proficient at creating tools and utility programs in Python
  • Use the Git version control system to protect your development environment from unwanted changes
  • Harness the power of Python to automate other software
  • Distribute computational tasks across multiple processors
  • Handle high I/O loads with asynchronous I/O to get a smoother performance
  • Take advantage of Python s metaprogramming and programmable syntax features
  • Get acquainted with the concepts behind reactive programming and RxPy

Product Details

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Publication date : Jun 30, 2017
Length: 274 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781787284401
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Product Details

Publication date : Jun 30, 2017
Length: 274 pages
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Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781787284401
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Table of Contents

12 Chapters
Python Primer Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Setting Up Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Making a Package Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Basic Best Practices Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Making a Command-Line Utility Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Parallel Processing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Coroutines and Asynchronous I/O Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Metaprogramming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Unit Testing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Reactive Programming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Microservices Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Extension Modules and Compiled Code Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
(1 Ratings)
5 star 100%
4 star 0%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 0%
Jane F. Ruthford May 31, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I liked the examples and clear explanations in Daniel Arbuckle's book. It felt like he was teaching and listening to me puzzle over definitions and concepts as I work to "master Python." I'm not completely through the book yet, but so far, my engagement with the topics in the book has remained high. I definitely recommend this articulate book.
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