Practical Programming: An Introduction to SPuter Science Using Python 3.6

I had a previous version of this book on PDF and I enjoyed it so much, I always like to have a hard copy and so now I have one. Great book

I had a lot of experience with c. I learned a lot from this book. I wish it was around when I first learned to program.

I am one of those people who believe everyone should know how to code. If you learn how to code, you also learn some of what has become known as “computer science”. This excellent teaching text begins with an explanation for the author’s choice of Python as their teaching language. Within a very few pages, the student is learning what programming is, what a program does and straight into the basics of programming with Python. This is not a comprehensive soup-to-nuts treatment of programming with Python. Rather, it is more intent on teaching the underlying concepts of computer science. So we begin with designing and using functions, then working with text, making choices the use of Python modules and so on. In all, 17 chapters walk you through the bedrock elements of computer science and programming with Python. The intent is not so much teaching a person how to become competent as a Python programmer, but rather instructing the student in the principles of computer science. It succeeds, I think. The language is very clear, with subjects being introduced on a step-by-step basis. I think this succeeds as a classroom text and also as a platform for self-study.Jerry

Very comprehensive and allows you to learn a majority of python straight from the book.

If new to programming, or a seasoned veteran seeking to become familiar with the popular Python language, this Practical Programming book, even at its introductory level, is a fantastic resource.Initially, I had scowled because I wanted to follow along in a widely available compiler I was wanting to concurrently learn, but it is easy enough to use a preferred environment by learning it on its own, and having this book for the Python walkthrough.It has your typical procedural format, presenting operators, conditionals, and the various language attributes, all while assisting students in becoming familiar with Computer Science as a subject. The book is useful for beginners to programming, and those new to Python alike. One can never have too many tools at one's disposal.

The authors of "Practical Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science Using Python 3.6" make clear the distinction between programming and computer science. This book offers an introduction to both, but will take the novice much further down the path of computer programming. The authors do make a good practical case for learning Python (especially craeer-wise), though I would question Python as being the best choice for learning computer science.

This delivers as promised - it provides fundamental information for those who are new to programming and computer science. My interest is as a hobby so I know next to nothing. This assumes the reader is a novice and begins with basic explanations then moves forward from there. Not the most interesting but very useful.

Good book

Muy bueno

This book introduces you to the world of computer science by way of Python 3.6. It does exactly what the title of the book suggests. I couldn't be happier with it.Remember, there is no singular book that will teach you everything you need to know about Computer Science or Python for that matter, but this book is an amazing stepping stone in the right direction.As with anything you are trying to learn, practice along with the book. You will learn much better by doing, than by just reading it.

This book is written in a very easy to understand language. And it is very good book beginners.

I was looking for a book to self-learn both computer science and Python. I had borrowed and read the first edition of this book from my local library several years back, but gave up half-way when I ran into obstacles when getting my code to run. Nevertheless, I remembered this book to be quite user-friendly and decided to buy it anyway.The presentation of the material in this book reminds me of the textbooks written for tertiary students. The font sizes for normal text are not too small, and that of the code examples, though smaller, are still easily readable. However, the font sizes for the normal text does vary throughout the book, which I find to be strange, but doesn't cause much of an issue for me. There is white space around the text, which allows readers to put in their own notes.The level of this book is definitely at entry-level, and teaches the basic of computer science using Python 3. All major topics of computer science are covered, with an extensive coverage of features of Python too. I find it interesting that the topic of Functions is introduced in Chapter 3, very early on in the book, and Iteration is postponed till Chapter 9. In between, there are some difficult chapters, like Modules and Methods. The longer code examples in Chapter 10, "Reading and Writing Files", can also be challenging for some entry-level readers. I also don't find their write-up on advanced concepts, like Algorithms, Searching & Sorting and Object-Oriented Programming to be outstanding. I think Jay Wengrow did a better job in his book "A common-sense guide to data structures and algorithms".However, I have no regrets buying this book. The coverage is wide and thorough. The authors are not afraid to tackle difficult aspects of programming and provide a lot of code examples to make their explanations clearer. You would want to be aware and alerted to the possible pitfalls, and I think the authors have done a great job in this book.Another aspect that deserves high commendation is the inclusion of programming problems in the book. There is no lack of literature in the market on computing. However, I find that many books have code examples but no programming challenges, making the learning experience incomplete. In this book, there is an exercise section with a decent number of problems at the end of every chapter, except Chapter 1. The problems range in different levels of difficulty: you have the questions with a one-liner answer, and plenty of others that require coding, which is exactly what beginners need. The icing on the cake is that solutions in PDF's are available at the book's website for download for free, which is extremely useful for those who might be struggling with the questions. I personally benefit from comparing my own codes with theirs. A little problem though: there is no explanation to the solutions; the answers are just presented, and sometimes in a haphazard fashion. But this is better than no answers, in my view. At least some help is available if we are stuck.Another unique feature about this book that I have to mention is their creation of the "memory model" to explain how computers stores data. This model is introduced in Chapter 2, and comes up continually throughout the book. This model allows me to have a deeper understanding of the concept of Aliasing, Mutability and how computers store data for different Python data structures. I believe this takes the level of understanding of a beginner to a deeper level.I was lucky enough to have ordered this book from Amazon SG during the initial days of COVID, just before prices surged (I purchased it for S$46.65). This book is not all easy, but if one perseveres, I believe one will be rewarded with solid programming knowledge in Python.

Used by my son for a university course. Great book.