Python : Create - Modify - Reuse

__Python: Create-Modify-Reuse__ is designed for all levels of Python developers interested in a practical, hands-on way of learning Python development. This book is designed to show you how to use Python (in combination with the raw processing power of your computer) to accomplish real-world tasks in a more efficient way. Don't look for an exhaustive description of the Python language––you won't find it. The book's main purpose is not to thoroughly cover the Python language, but rather to show how you can use Python to create robust, real-world applications.This book is for developers with some experience with Python who want to explore how to develop full-blown applications. It is also for developers with experience in other languages who want to learn Python by building robust applications. It is well-suited for developers who like to “learn by doing,” rather than exploring a language feature by feature. To get the most out of the book, you should understand basic programming principles. This book starts with a basic overview of the Python language, designed for those familiar with other languages but new to Python. It is followed by several chapters, each of which describes a complete project that can be used as-is or modified and extended to suit your particular purposes. You'll find applications that access databases, take advantage of web technologies, and facilitate network communications, to name a few. In addition, and more important than the technologies you will be introduced to, you will learn how to use Python to solve real challenges. Following these chapters are two chapters that cover accessing operating system resources and debugging and testing, respectively. This book is framed around the code itself. This is because developers are typically looking for how to do something; and, as with many activities, you learn how to do something by watching how others do and trying it yourself. If you want to know how a `for` loop works, you'll find `for` loops in my code, but that's not the thrust of the book. Instead, this book shows you how to do things: how to build a content management system, how to build a test management system, how to set up a system for tracking customer follow-up, and so on. Along the way, you'll learn how to communicate with a SQL database, how to act as a web server or communicate with one, how to access operating system services, and more. Python: Create-Modify-Reuse is designed for all levels of Python developers interested in a practical, hands-on way of learning Python development. This book is designed to show you how to use Python (in combination with the raw processing power of your computer) to accomplish real-world tasks in a more efficient way. Don't look for an exhaustive description of the Python language----you won't find it. The book's main purpose is not to thoroughly cover the Python language, but rather to show how you can use Python to create robust, real-world applications. In this respect, the goal is similar to foreign-language books that identify themselves as "conversational," focusing on the vocabulary and concepts that people will need the most. Likewise, I focus specifically on the Python knowledge needed to accomplish practical, specific tasks. Along the way, you will learn to create useful, efficient scripts that are easy to maintain and enhance. This book is for developers with some experience with Python who want to explore how to develop full-blown applications. It is also for developers with experience in other languages who want to learn Python by building robust applications. It is well-suited for developers who like to "learn by doing," rather than exploring a language feature by feature. To get the most out of the book, you should understand basic programming principles. Because this book is project-based, you can approach it in numerous ways. You can, of course, read it from cover to cover. Chapters 2 through 8 each cover a different project, so the chapters are independent of each other. However, because each chapter project is covered individually, there may be some overlap of information. I also sometimes refer to explanations of particular topics covered in previous chapters. This will help to reinforce important concepts. The end of the book contains two appendixes. The first one is a listing of Python resources you can check out for more information. The second one will help you with installing additional components used in some of the examples. This book starts with a basic overview of the Python language, designed for those familiar with other languages but new to Python. It is followed by several chapters, each of which describes a complete project that can be used as-is or modified and extended to suit your particular purposes. You'll find applications that access databases, take advantage of web technologies, and facilitate network communications, to name a few. In addition, and more important than the technologies you will be introduced to, you will learn how to use Python to solve real challenges. Following these chapters are two chapters that cover accessing operating system resources and debugging and testing, respectively. Each project chapter contains complete instructions describing how to install and use the application, so you can actually see the program run as you learn how to construct and use it, including how the project was designed and prototyped. This book is intended to be both a reference guide and a learning aid, teaching you how to build solutions with Python and providing reference information on a wide variety of Python programming concepts. It is hoped that this book will help you have fun with Python and build useful applications, and--unlike my experience with building a deck--without sore thumbs. This book is framed around the code itself. This is because developers are typically looking for how to do something; and, as with many activities, you learn how to do something by watching how others do and trying it yourself. If you want to... Create-Modify-Reuse is designed for all levels of Python developers interested in a practical, hands-on way of learning Python development. This book is designed to show you how to use Python (in combination with the raw processing power of your computer) to accomplish real-world tasks in a more efficient way. Don't look for an exhaustive description of the Python languageyou won't find it. The book's main purpose is not to thoroughly cover the Python language, but rather to show how you can use Python to create robust, real-world applications. This book is for developers with some experience with Python who want to explore how to develop full-blown applications. It is also for developers with experience in other languages who want to learn Python by building robust applications. It is well-suited for developers who like to learn by doing, rather than exploring a language feature by feature. To get the most out of the book, you should understand basic programming principles. This book starts with a basic overview of the Python language, designed for those familiar with other languages but new to Python. It is followed by several chapters, each of which describes a complete project that can be used as-is or modified and extended to suit your particular purposes. You'll find applications that access databases, take advantage of web technologies, and facilitate network communications, to name a few. In addition, and more important than the technologies you will be introduced to, you will learn how to use Python to solve real challenges. Following these chapters are two chapters that cover accessing operating system resources and debugging and testing, respectively. This book is framed around the code itself. This is because developers are typically looking for how to do something; and, as with many activities, you learn how to do something by watching how others do and trying it yourself. If you want to know how a for loop works, you'll find for loops in my code, but that's not the thrust of the book. Instead, this book shows you how to do how to build a content management system, how to build a test management system, how to set up a system for tracking customer follow-up, and so on. Along the way, you'll learn how to communicate with a SQL database, how to act as a web server or communicate with one, how to access operating system services, and more.

python: Create-modify-reuse

aimed At All Levels Of Python Developers Who Are Interested In A Task-based Way Of Learning Python Development, This Hands-on Book Shows How You Can Efficiently Use Python To Create Robust, Real-world Applications. After A Brief Primer On This Object-oriented, Interactive Programming Language, You Will Jump Right Into Practical Python Development So That You Can Create Useful, Streamlined Scripts That Are Easy To Maintain And Enhance, And That You Can Immediately Put To Use In The Real World.

each Chapter Features A Complete Project That You Can Use As It Currently Exists Or Modify To Suit Your Particular Purposes. Among These Projects You'll Find Applications That Access Databases, Take Advantage Of Web Technologies, Facilitate Network Communications, And More. Plus, You'll Also Explore More Advanced Topics Such As Accessing Operating System Resources, Writing Scripts That Are Easy To Read And Maintain, And Debugging And Testing. However, Even More Important Than The Technologies You Will Be Introduced To, You Will Learn How To Use Python To Solve Real Challenges.

what You Will Learn From This Book

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  the Various Technologies And Techniques That Are Available To Python Developers
  
  
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  ways To Communicate With An Sql Database
  
  
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  tips For Acting As A Web Server Or Communicating With One
  
  
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  how To Access And Manipulate Xml Files
  
  
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  techniques For Building A Content Management System
  
  
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  ways To Access And Communicate With Your Operating System
  
  

who This Book Is For

this Book Is For Developers Who Want To Explore How To Develop Full-blown Applications With Python. A General Understanding Of Basic Programming Principles And Object-oriented Design Is Helpful.

create – Modify – Reuse Guides Are Packed With Unique, Ready-to-use Projects That Are Perfect For The Busy Programmer. The Projects Are Created With Minimal Set-up, And Can Be Modified, Enhanced, And Reused In Real-world Situations.

Python ® Create-Modify-Reuse 1 About the Author 10 Credits 12 Acknowledgments 14 Contents 16 Introduction 22 Who This Book Is For 22 What This Book Covers 23 How This Book Is Structured 23 What You Need to Use This Book 26 Source Code 26 Errata 27 p2p.wrox.com 27 Chapter 1: A Python Primer 30 Getting Started 30 Lexical Structure 32 Operators 35 Expressions and Statements 36 Iteration and Decision-Making 37 Functions 40 Modules 41 Classes 43 Summary 44 Part I: The Projects 46 Chapter 2: Directory/File Snapshot Program 48 Using the Program 49 Design 54 Code and Code Explanation 56 Testing 71 Modifying the Program 71 Summary 71 Chapter 3: DVD Inventory System 72 Using the Program 73 Design 84 Code and Code Explanation 87 Testing 108 Modifying the Program 108 Summary 109 Chapter 4: Web Performance Tester 110 Using the Program 111 Design 117 Code and Code Explanation 119 Testing 131 Modifying the Program 131 Summary 131 Chapter 5: Customer Follow-Up System 132 Using the Program 132 Design 144 Code and Code Explanation 146 Testing 152 Modifying the Program 152 Summary 153 Chapter 6: Test Management/Reporting System 154 Using the Program 155 Design 162 Code and Code Explanation 164 Testing 184 Modifying the Program 184 Summary 184 Chapter 7: Version Management System 186 Using the Program 187 Design 191 Code and Code Explanation 192 Testing 203 Modifying the Program 204 Summary 204 Chapter 8: Content Management System 206 Plone Overview 206 Installing and Configuring Plone 207 Design 216 Navigation 218 Content Management 218 User Permissions 224 Summary 225 Part II: Advanced Topics 226 Chapter 9: Interacting with the Operating System 228 Generic Operating System Services 229 Accessing Windows Services 234 Accessing Unix/Linux Services 241 Summary 248 Chapter 10: Debugging and Testing 250 The Python Debugger 250 Python Test Frameworks 255 Summary 266 Final Remarks 266 Appendix A: Where to Go From Here — Resources That Can Help 268 Books 268 Websites and Blogs 269 Appendix B: Installing Supplemental Programs 270 Installing MySQL 270 Installing Win32All 277 Index 282 This project-based, hands-on book is designed to show you how to use Python to create scripts that are easy to maintain and enhance. Taking a real-world approach, the book explains how Python can be used to solve programming problems. It includes a Python refresher or primer for programmers new to Python. The code provided in the book is simplistic or trivial, but is effective in walking you through the process of creating robust scripts that you can use immediately to create real solutions to the challenges you may face. Provides information on using Python to create applications, covering such topics as communicating with an SQL database, accessing and manipulating XML files, building a content management system, and acting as a Web server.