Python® Projects

A guide to completing Python projects for those ready to take their skills to the next level Python Projects is the ultimate resource for the Python programmer with basic skills who is ready to move beyond tutorials and start building projects. The preeminent guide to bridge the gap between learning and doing, this book walks readers through the "where" and "how" of real-world Python programming with practical, actionable instruction. With a focus on real-world functionality, Python Projects details the ways that Python can be used to complete daily tasks and bring efficiency to businesses and individuals alike. Python Projects is written specifically for those who know the Python syntax and lay of the land, but may still be intimidated by larger, more complex projects. The book provides a walk-through of the basic set-up for an application and the building and packaging for a library, and explains in detail the functionalities related to the projects. Topics include: *How to maximize the power of the standard library modules *Where to get third party libraries, and the best practices for utilization *Creating, packaging, and reusing libraries within and across projects *Building multi-layered functionality including networks, data, and user interfaces *Setting up development environments and using virtualenv, pip, and more Written by veteran Python trainers, the book is structured for easy navigation and logical progression that makes it ideal for individual, classroom, or corporate training. For Python developers looking to apply their skills to real-world challenges, Python Projects is a goldmine of information and expert insight. Python® Projects ABOUT THE AUTHORS ABOUT THE TECHNICAL EDITORS CREDITS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CONTENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: REVIEWING CORE PYTHON Exploring the Python Language and the Interpreter Reviewing the Python Data Types Numeric Types: Integer and Float The Boolean Type The None Type Collection Types Strings Bytes and ByteArrays Tuples Lists Dictionaries Sets Using Python Control Structures Structuring Your Program Using Sequences, Blocks and Comments Selecting an Execution Path Iteration Handling Exceptions Managing Context Getting Data In and Out of Python Interacting with Users Using Text Files Extending Python Defining and Using Functions Generator Functions Lambda Functions Defining and Using Classes and Objects Creating and Using Modules and Packages Using and Creating Modules Using and Creating Packages Creating an Example Package Using Third-Party Packages Summary CHAPTER 2: SCRIPTING WITH PYTHON Accessing the Operating System Obtaining Information About Users and Their Computer Obtaining Information About the Current Process Managing Other Programs Managing Subprocesses More Effectively Obtaining Information About Files (and Devices) Navigating and Manipulating the File system Plumbing the Directory Tree Depths Working with Dates and Times Using the time Module Introducing the datetime Module Introducing the calendar Module Handling Common File Formats Using Comma-Separated Values Working with Config Files Working with XML and HTML Files Parsing XML Files Parsing HTML Files Accessing Native APIs with ctypes and pywin32 Accessing the Operating System Libraries Using ctypes with Windows Using ctypes on Linux Accessing a Windows Application Using COM Automating Tasks Involving Multiple Applications Using Python First Using Operating System Utilities Using Data Files Using a Third-Party Module Interacting with Subprocesses via a CLI Using Web Services for Server-Based Applications Using a Native Code API Using GUI Robotics Summary CHAPTER 3: MANAGING DATA Storing Data Using Python Using DBM as a Persistent Dictionary Using Pickle to Store and Retrieve Objects Accessing Objects with shelve Analyzing Data with Python Analyzing Data Using Built-In Features of Python Analyzing Data with ittertools Utility Functions Data Processing Functions Taming the Vagaries of groupby() Using itertools to Analyze LendyDB Data Managing Data Using SQL Relational Database Concepts Structured Query Language Creating Tables Inserting Data Reading Data Modifying Data Linking Data Across Tables Digging Deeper into Data Constraints Revisiting SQLite Field Types Modeling Relationships with Constraints Many-to-Many Relationships Migrating LendyDB to an SQL Database Accessing SQL from Python Using SQL Connections Using a Cursor Creating the LendyDB SQL Database Inserting Test Data Creating a LendyDB API Exploring Other Data Management Options Client-Server Databases NoSQL The Cloud Data Analysis with RPy Summary CHAPTER 4: BUILDING DESKTOP APPLICATIONS Structuring Applications Building Command-Line Interfaces Building the Data Layer Building the Core Logic Layer Building the User Interface Using the cmd Module to Build a Command-Line Interface Reading Command-Line Arguments Jazzing Up the Command-Line Interface with Some Dialogs Programming GUIs with Tkinter Introducing Key GUI Principles Event-Based Programming GUI Terminology The Containment Tree Building a Simple GUI Building a Tic-Tac-Toe GUI Sketching a UI Design Building Menus Building a Tic-Tac-Toe Board Connecting the GUI to the Game Extending Tkinter Using Tix Using ttk Revisiting the Lending Library Exploring Other GUI Toolkits for Python wxPython PyQt PyGTK Native GUIs: Cocoa and PyWin32 Dabo Storing Local Data Storing Application-Specific Data Storing User-Selected Preferences Storing Application State Logging Error information Understanding Localization Using Locales Using Unicode in Python Using gettext Summary CHAPTER 5: PYTHON ON THE WEB Python on the Web Parts of a Web Application The Client-Server Relationship Middleware and MVC HTTP Methods and Headers What Is an API? Web Programming with Python Using the Python HTTP Modules Creating an HTTP Server Exploring the Flask Framework Creating Data Models in Flask Creating Core Flask Files More on Python and the Web Static Site Generators Web Frameworks Using Python Across the Wire XML-RPC Socket Servers More Networking Fun in Python Summary CHAPTER 6: PYTHON IN BIGGER PROJECTS Testing with the Doctest Module Testing with the Unittest Module Test-Driven Development in Python Debugging Your Python Code Handling Exceptions in Python Working on Larger Python Projects Releasing Python Packages Summary CHAPTER 7: EXPLORING PYTHON’S FRONTIERS Drawing Pictures with Python Using Turtle Graphics Using GUI Canvas Objects Plotting Data Using imghdr Introducing Pillow Trying Out ImageMagick Doing Science with Python Introducing SciPy Doing Bioscience with Python Using GIS Watching Your Language Getting It All Playing Games with Python Enriching the Experience with PyGame Exploring Other Options Going to the Movies The Computer Graphics Kit Modeling and Animation Photo Processing Working with Audio Integrating with Other Languages Jython IronPython Cython Tcl/Tk Getting Physical Introducing Serial Options Programming the RaspberryPi Talking to the Arduino Exploring Other Options Building Python Fixing Bugs Documenting Testing Adding Features Attending Conferences Summary APPENDIX A: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES Chapter 1 Solutions Chapter 2 Solutions Chapter 3 Solutions Chapter 4 Solutions Chapter 5 Solutions Chapter 6 Solutions Chapter 7 Solutions APPENDIX B: PYTHON STANDARD MODULES APPENDIX C: USEFUL PYTHON RESOURCES Asking Questions: Mailing Lists and More Reading Blogs Studying Tutorials and References Watching Videos And Now for Something Completely Different... REFERENCES INDEX ADVERT EULA A host of Python projects for those ready to take their skills to the next level Python Projects is the ultimate resource for the Python programmer with basic skills who wishes to move beyond tutorials and start building projects. The preeminent guide to bridge the gap between learning and doing, this book walks readers through the "where" and "how" of real-world Python programming with practical, actionable instruction. With a focus on real-world functionality, Python Projects details the ways that Python can be used to complete daily tasks, make life easier, and bring efficiency to businesses. Python Projects is written specifically for the Python novice who knows the syntax and lay of the land, but may still be intimidated by complex open-source projects. The book provides a walk-through of the basic setup of an app and the building and packaging of a library, and explains in detail the functionalities related to projects. Topics include: Where to get libraries, and the best practices for utilization Creating, packaging, and sharing libraries within the community Using libraries to build projects with multi-layered functionality Setting up development environments using virtualenv, pip, and more Written by veteran Python trainers, the book is structured for easy navigation and logical progression that makes it ideal for classroom or corporate training use. For Python developers looking to apply their skills to real-world challenges, Python Projects is a goldmine of information and expert insight. This book walks readers through the "where" and "how" of real-world Python programming with practical, actionable instruction. With a focus on real-world functionality, it details the ways that Python can be used to complete daily tasks and bring efficiency to businesses and individuals. It is written specifically for those who know the Python syntax, but may still be intimidated by larger, more complex projects. It provides a walk-through of the basic set-up for an application and the building and packaging for a library, and explains in detail the functionalities related to the projects. Topics include: how to maximize the power of the standard library modules; where to get third party libraries, and the best practices for utilization; creating, packaging, and reusing libraries within and across projects; building multi-layered functionality including networks, data, and user interfaces; setting up development environments and using virtualenv, pip, and more. -- Edited summary from book