Eric Matthes is a high school science and math teacher living in Alaska where he teaches an introductory Python course. He has been writing programs since he was five years old.

A fast-paced, no-nonsense guide to programming in Python. Teaches
beginners the basics with a focus on real projects.

- Direct, no-nonsense, practical approach to learning Python
- Python is the most popular programming language for beginners
- Projects provide a fun way for readers to apply their Python skills

IntroductionPart I: Basics
Chapter 1: Getting Started
Chapter 2: Variables and Simple Data Types
Chapter 3: Introducing Lists
Chapter 4: Working with Lists
Chapter 5: if Statements
Chapter 6: Dictionaries
Chapter 7: User Input and while Loops
Chapter 8: Functions
Chapter 9: Classes
Chapter 10: Files and Exceptions
Chapter 11: Testing Your Code
Part II: Projects
Project 1: Alien Invasion
Chapter 12: A Ship that Fires Bullets
Chapter 13: Aliens!
Chapter 14: Scoring
Project 2: Data Visualization
Chapter 15: Generating Data
Chapter 16: Downloading Data
Chapter 17: Working with APIs
Project 3: Web Applications
Chapter 18: Getting Started with Django
Chapter 19: User Accounts
Chapter 20: Styling and Deploying an App
Afterword
Appendix A: Installing Python
Appendix B: Text Editors
Appendix C: Getting Help
Appendix D: Using Git for Version Control

Python Crash Course is a fast-paced, thorough introduction to Python that will have you writing programs, solving problems, and making things that work in no time. In the first half of the book, you ll learn about basic programming concepts, such as lists, dictionaries, classes, and loops, and practice writing clean and readable code with exercises for each topic. You ll also learn how to make your programs interactive and how to test your code safely before adding it to a project. In the second half of the book, you ll put your new knowledge into practice with three substantial projects: a Space Invaders inspired arcade game, data visualizations with Python s super-handy libraries, and a simple web app you can deploy online. As you work through Python Crash Course you ll learn how to: Use powerful Python libraries and tools, including matplotlib, NumPy, and Pygal Make 2D games that respond to keypresses and mouse clicks, and that grow more difficult as the game progresses Work wit