Python for Software Design
How to Think Like a Computer Scientist

A no-nonsense introduction to software design using the Python programming language, for people with no programming experience.

Allen B. Downey (Author)

9780521898119, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 March 2009

270 pages, 25 b/w illus. 118 exercises
26 x 18.4 x 2 cm, 0.64 kg

'… explains concepts in clear, readable prose; contains helpful illustrations; and integrates activities to engage its readers.' Computing in Science and Engineering

A no-nonsense introduction to software design using the Python programming language. Written for people with no programming experience, this book starts with the most basic concepts and gradually adds new material. Some of the ideas students find most challenging, like recursion and object-oriented programming, are divided into a sequence of smaller steps and introduced over the course of several chapters. The focus is on the programming process, with special emphasis on debugging. The book includes a wide range of exercises, from short examples to substantial projects, so that students have ample opportunity to practise each new concept. Exercise solutions and code examples are available from thinkpython.com, along with Swampy, a suite of Python programs that is used in some of the exercises.

1. Preface
2. The way of the program
3. Variables, expressions and statements
4. Functions
5. Case study: interface design
6. Conditionals and recursion
7. Fruitful functions
8. Iteration
9. Strings
10. Case study: word play
11. Lists
12. Dictionaries
13. Tuples
14. Case study: data structure selection
15. Files
16. Classes and objects
17. Classes and functions
18. Classes and methods
19. Inheritance
20. Case study: Tkinter
Appendix 1: debugging.

Subject Areas: Software Engineering [UMZ], Computer programming / software development [UM]