The Well-Grounded Python Developer, MEAP Version 1

The Well-Grounded Python Developer teaches you how to write real software in Python by building on the basic language skills you already have. Veteran developer Doug Farrell helps you see the big picture you can create out of small pieces, introducing concepts like modular construction, APIs, and the design of a basic web server. Throughout the book, you’ll practice your skills by building a blogging platform—the kind of web app that’s in high demand by modern businesses. When you’re finished, you’ll have gone from having a basic understanding of Python's syntax, grammar, and libraries to using them as the tools of a professional software developer.Chapters 1 - 6 If you're new to Python, it can be tough to understand when, where, and how to use all its language features. This friendly guide shows you how the Python ecosystem fits together, and grounds you in the skills you need to continue your journey to being a software developer.Summary Inside The Well-Grounded Python Developer you will discover: Building modules of functionality Creating a well-constructed web server application Integrating database access into your Python applications Refactor and decoupling systems to help scale them How to think about the big picture of your application The Well-Grounded Python Developer builds on Python skills you've learned in isolation and shows you how to unify them into a meaningful whole. It helps you understand the dizzying array of libraries and teaches important concepts, like modular construction, APIs, and the design of a basic web server. As you work through this practical guide, you'll discover how all the bits of Python link up as you build and modify a typical web server application—the kind of web app that's in high demand by modern businesses. About the technology As a new programmer, you're happy just to see your code run. A professional developer, on the other hand, needs to create software that runs reliably. It must be fast, maintainable, scalable, secure, well designed and documented, easy for others to update, and quick to ship. This book teaches you the skills you need to go from Python programmer to Python developer. About the book The Well-Grounded Python Developer shows you why Python, the world's most popular programming language, is a fantastic tool for professional development. It guides you through the most important skills, like how to name variables, functions, and classes, how to identify and write a good API, and how to use objects. You'll also learn how to deal with inevitable failures, how to make software that connects to the internet, core security practices, and many other professional-grade techniques. What's inside Create a web application Connect to a database Design programs to handle big tasks About the reader For experienced beginners who want to learn professional-level skills. About the author Doug Farrell has been a professional developer since 1983, and has worked with Python for over 20 years. Table of Contents 1 Becoming a Pythonista PART 1 - GROUNDWORK 2 That's a good name 3 The API: Let's talk 4 The object of conversation 5 Exceptional events PART 2 - FIELDWORK 6 Sharing with the internet 7 Doing it with style 8 Do I know you? Authentication 9 What can you do? Authorization 10 Persistence is good: Databases 11 I've got something to say 12 Are we there yet? MEAP Version 3 The Well-Grounded Python Developer MEAP V03 1 Copyright 2 Welcome 3 Brief contents 4 1: Becoming a Pythonista 5 1.1 Who is the intended audience? 6 1.2 Being a developer 6 1.2.1 Solving Problems 7 1.2.2 Process 7 1.2.3 Your Customers 8 1.2.4 Commitment to Learning 8 1.3 Reaching goals 9 1.3.1 Thinking like a developer 9 1.3.2 Building Applications 9 1.4 Using Python 10 1.4.1 The Syntax 10 1.4.2 Variables 11 1.4.3 Programming Paradigms 12 1.4.4 Creating Maintainable Code 13 1.4.5 The Language Community 14 1.4.6 The Developer Tooling 14 1.4.7 Performance 15 1.5 Version of Python to use 16 1.6 Summary 17 2: Your Python Environment 18 2.1 Installing Python 18 2.1.1 Windows 19 2.1.2 Mac 19 2.1.3 Linux 20 2.2 Python Virtual Environment 20 2.2.1 Windows 21 2.2.2 Mac and Linux 22 2.3 Setting up Visual Studio Code 22 2.3.1 Installing Visual Studio Code 23 2.3.2 Installing Python Extension 23 2.3.3 Other Useful Extensions 24 2.3.4 Starting From the Command Line 24 2.3.5 Starting a Project 25 2.4 Some Advice 26 2.5 Summary 26 3: Names and Namespaces 28 3.1 Names 28 3.1.1 Naming Things 29 3.1.2 Naming Experiment 32 3.2 Namespaces 34 3.3 Python Namespaces 35 3.3.1 BuiltIns Level 35 3.3.2 Module Level 36 3.3.3 Function Level 39 3.3.4 Namespace Scope 40 3.3.5 Namespace Experiment 42 3.4 Summary 45 4: Application Programming Interface 46 4.1 Application Programmers Interface 46 4.1.1 A Contract Between Pieces Of Code 47 4.1.2 What's Passed As Input 48 4.1.3 What's Expected As Output 50 4.2 Function API 52 4.2.1 Naming 52 4.2.2 Arguments 53 4.2.3 Return Value 55 4.2.4 Single Responsibility 55 4.2.5 Function Length 56 4.2.6 Idempotent 57 4.2.7 Side Effects 57 4.3 Documentation 58 4.4 Summary 59 5: Object-Oriented Coding 60 5.1 Object-oriented 60 5.1.1 Class Definition 61 5.1.2 Drawing With Class 62 5.1.3 Inheritance 70 5.1.4 Polymorphism 79 5.1.5 Composition 80 5.2 Summary 83 6: Exception Handling 84 6.1 Exceptions 86 6.2 Handling Exceptions 88 6.2.1 Handle An Exception If The Code Can Do Something About It 88 6.2.2 Allow Exceptions To Flow Upward In Your Programs 88 6.2.3 Never Silence An Exception 89 6.3 Raising An Exception 92 6.4 Creating Your Own Exceptions 93 6.5 Summary 94