Features

• Includes code examples, exercises, and projects from a variety of application domains
• Allows instructors to easily adapt the book to their preferences, as each chapter takes approximately one class period
• Introduces basic programming constructs such as functions, selection, and repetition early, allowing them to be used throughout the course
• Covers object terminology in the middle of the course and class design toward the end
• Presents chapters on functional and parallel programming
• Provides source code, a Python dictionary, and other materials at www.central.edu/go/conciseintro/

Summary

Suitable for newcomers to computer science, A Concise Introduction to Programming in Python provides a succinct, yet complete, first course in computer science using the Python programming language.

The book features:

• Short, modular chapters with brief and precise explanations, intended for one class period
• Early introduction of basic procedural constructs such as functions, selection, and repetition, allowing them to be used throughout the course
• Objects are introduced in the middle of the course, and class design comes toward the end
• Examples, exercises, and projects from a wide range of application domains, including biology, physics, images, sound, mathematics, games, and textual analysis
• No external libraries are required, simplifying the book’s use in common lab spaces

Each chapter introduces a main idea through a concrete example and a series of exercises. Designed to teach programming in a concise, yet comprehensive way, this book provides a timely introduction for students and anyone interested in learning Python.