A hands-on introduction to programming that teaches Python basics quickly, then puts them to work in a game, data visualizations and a web app
From first line to real projects
Eric Matthes taught science, maths and programming in high school, and his book reads like a patient teacher's course. The first half covers the essentials of Python: variables, lists, loops, functions, classes, files and testing. The second half turns those skills into three substantial projects, so readers finish with programs they have actually built themselves.
Who will enjoy it
Complete beginners, students, and professionals who want to automate tasks or move into data or web work using Python.
What you will get
A clear, hands-on introduction to programming that teaches the core of Python step by step and then guides readers through building a game, data charts and a working web app.
Python Crash Course Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Nonfiction · Learn to code · Python · Project-based
Length
544 pages · ≈ 16 h
More about this book
The projects are what set this book apart. In one, readers build an arcade-style game in which a ship shoots down waves of invading aliens. In another, they download real data and turn it into charts and maps. In the last, they build a simple web application with a database and user accounts. Each project grows step by step, so mistakes are easy to trace and fix.
Matthes writes clearly and anticipates common stumbling blocks, and each chapter ends with short exercises. He also teaches good habits from the start, such as readable code, simple tests and version control, which many beginner books skip. The pacing is brisk but rarely overwhelming.
Libraries and tools change quickly, so some setup instructions may need checking against the author's online updates, and a newer edition is available. Readers who want deep computer science theory will need another book. As a first step into real programming, it is excellent. A companion website offers solutions and updated code, which helps self-taught readers who get stuck working alone. About 544 pages in the No Starch Press second edition.
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