Book Image

The Python Workshop

By : Olivier Pons, Andrew Bird, Dr. Lau Cher Han, Mario Corchero Jiménez, Graham Lee, Corey Wade
Book Image

The Python Workshop

By: Olivier Pons, Andrew Bird, Dr. Lau Cher Han, Mario Corchero Jiménez, Graham Lee, Corey Wade

Overview of this book

Have you always wanted to learn Python, but never quite known how to start? More applications than we realize are being developed using Python because it is easy to learn, read, and write. You can now start learning the language quickly and effectively with the help of this interactive tutorial. The Python Workshop starts by showing you how to correctly apply Python syntax to write simple programs, and how to use appropriate Python structures to store and retrieve data. You'll see how to handle files, deal with errors, and use classes and methods to write concise, reusable, and efficient code. As you advance, you'll understand how to use the standard library, debug code to troubleshoot problems, and write unit tests to validate application behavior. You'll gain insights into using the pandas and NumPy libraries for analyzing data, and the graphical libraries of Matplotlib and Seaborn to create impactful data visualizations. By focusing on entry-level data science, you'll build your practical Python skills in a way that mirrors real-world development. Finally, you'll discover the key steps in building and using simple machine learning algorithms. By the end of this Python book, you'll have the knowledge, skills and confidence to creatively tackle your own ambitious projects with Python.
Table of Contents (13 chapters)

Preparing for Debugging (Defensive Code)

In the programming world, a bug refers to defects or problems that prevent code or programs from running normally or as expected. Debugging is the process of finding and resolving those defects. Debugging methods include interactive debugging, unit testing, integration testing, and other types of monitoring and profiling practices.

Defensive programming is a form of debugging approach that ensures the continuing function of a piece of a program under unforeseen circumstances. Defensive programming is particularly useful when you require our programs to have high reliability. In general, you practice defensive programming to improve the quality of software and source code, and to write code that is both readable and understandable.

By making our software behave in a predictable manner, you can use exceptions to handle unexpected inputs or user actions that can potentially reduce the risk of crashing our programs.

Writing Assertions

...