Python is a dynamic object-oriented programming language that runs on Windows, Linux/Unix, Mac OS X, Palm Handhelds, and Nokia mobile phones. Python has also been ported to the Java and .NET virtual machines. It is distributed under an OSI-approved open source license that makes it free for programmers to use, even for commercial products. Python can be downloaded at Python.org.
If you are new to the Python scripting language here is a wonderful set of tutorials by Richard Baldwin to get you up and running quickly.
Getting Started
This is the first in a series of online tutorial lessons designed to teach you how to program using the Python scripting language. There is something for just about everyone here. Beginners start at the beginning, and experienced programmers jump in further on.
Let’s Do Numbers
Learn how to use Python as a programmable calculator. In the process, you will also learn about some programming concepts, such as operators.
Variables and Identifiers
Baldwin shows you how to use variables and identifiers within Python.
Strings, Part I
Baldwin shows you how to program Python using strings and literals.
Writing and Using Scripts
If reusable…reusable…reusable is your mantra and you want to learn Python, scripts are the way to go.
Program Construction
See how the pieces become the whole in building Python programs.
Strings, Part II
Expand your knowledge of strings, and learn some concepts that will be useful with other data types as well: indexing and slicing.
Lists, Part I
Add lists to your Python repertoire.
Lists, Part II
Learn how to further manipulate lists within Python.
Tuples, Index and Slice
Tuples can provide some degree of integrity to the data stored in your Python programs. Find out how to make them do even more tricks!
Nested Tuples
Learn how tuples (a list whose values cannot be modified) can be nested and contain other compound objects, including lists, dictionaries, and other tuples.
Empty and Single-Item Tuples
Discover how to create empty tuples (lists whose values cannot be modified) and tuples containing only one item.
Unpacking Tuples
Bladwin moves forward with his Python programming series by focusing on packing and unpacking tuples as well as tuple concatenation.
Indexing Nested Tuples
Learn how to use multiple square-bracket notation for indexing nested tuples. Also see how to use the membership operation, packing a deeply-nested tuple, printing a deeply-nested tuple, and obtaining the length of a nested tuple.
Slicing Nested Tuples
Combine indexing and slicing to access groups of items in nested tuples.
Indirection
This lesson, which ends our miniseries on tuples, will explain indirection, and will also teach you how to use indirection to modify the value of an object referred to by a tuple item.
Getting Started with Dictionaries
Learn about the characteristics of the Python dictionary, and how to use those basic characteristics of a dictionary.
Valid Keys, Key Lists, Iteration
Moving deeper into dictionaries, learn the details on valid keys, key lists, and iteration on key lists.
Using Tuples as Keys
Furthering your knowledge on dictionaries, this lesson will teach you about modifying values and using tuples as keys.
Nesting, Sorting, Deleting, and Membership Testing Dictionary Elements
Learn how to nest dictionaries, sort key lists, delete elements from dictionaries, and do membership testing on dictionaries.
