Learn AI-Assisted Python Programming, Video Edition

Learn AI-Assisted Python Programming, Video Edition

by Leo Porter, Daniel Zingaro
Released December 2023
Publisher(s): Manning Publications
ISBN: None

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Video description

In Video Editions the narrator reads the book while the content, figures, code listings, diagrams, and text appear on the screen. Like an audiobook that you can also watch as a video.

Writing computer programs in Python just got a lot easier! Use AI-assisted coding tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT to turn your ideas into applications faster than ever.

AI has changed the way we write computer programs. With tools like Copilot and ChatGPT, you can describe what you want in plain English, and watch your AI assistant generate the code right before your eyes. It’s perfect for beginners, or anyone who’s struggled with the steep learning curve of traditional programming.

In Learn AI-Assisted Python Programming: With GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT you’ll learn how to:

  • Write fun and useful Python applications—no programming experience required!
  • Use the Copilot AI coding assistant to create Python programs
  • Write prompts that tell Copilot exactly what to do
  • Read Python code and understand what it does
  • Test your programs to make sure they work the way you want them to
  • Fix code with prompt engineering or human tweaks
  • Apply Python creatively to help out on the job

Learn AI-Assisted Python Programming: With GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT is a hands-on beginner’s guide that is written by two esteemed computer science university professors. It teaches you everything you need to start programming Python in an AI-first world. You’ll hit the ground running, writing prompts that tell your AI-assistant exactly what you want your programs to do. Along the way, you’ll pick up the essentials of Python programming and practice the higher-level thinking you’ll need to create working apps for data analysis, automating tedious tasks, and even video games.

About the Technology
The way people write computer programs has changed forever. Using GitHub Copilot, you describe in plain English what you want your program to do, and the AI generates it instantly.

About the Book
This book shows you how to create and improve Python programs using AI—even if you’ve never written a line of computer code before. Spend less time on the slow, low-level programming details and instead learn how an AI assistant can bring your ideas to life immediately. As you go, you’ll even learn enough of the Python language to understand and improve what your AI assistant creates.

What's Inside
  • Prompts for working code
  • Tweak code manually and with AI help
  • AI-test your programs
  • Let AI handle tedious details


About the Reader
If you can move files around on your computer and install new programs, you can learn to write useful software!

About the Authors
Dr. Leo Porter is a Teaching Professor at UC San Diego. Dr. Daniel Zingaro is an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Toronto. The technical editor on this book was Peter Morgan.

Quotes
...masterfully blends the basics of programming with the effective use of AI tools to produce code.
- Mehran Sahami, Stanford University

This is such a well thought out book from the point of view of someone just starting to code post generative AI tools.
- Ana Bell, MIT

You are about to learn programming with one of the most exciting human task - supporters of this century...
- From the foreword by Beth Simon, UC San Diego

This book accelerates your Copilot programming learning journey beyond what I ever thought possible.
- Austin Z. Henley, Microsoft

Table of contents

  1. Chapter 1. Introducing AI-assisted programming with Copilot
  2. Chapter 1. About the technology
  3. Chapter 1. How Copilot changes how we learn to program
  4. Chapter 1. What else can Copilot do for us?
  5. Chapter 1. Risks and challenges when using Copilot
  6. Chapter 1. The skills we need
  7. Chapter 1. Societal concerns about AI code assistants like Copilot
  8. Chapter 1. Summary
  9. Chapter 2. Getting started with Copilot
  10. Chapter 2. Getting your system set up
  11. Chapter 2. Working with Copilot in Visual Studio Code
  12. Chapter 2. Addressing common Copilot challenges
  13. Chapter 2. Our first programming problem
  14. Chapter 2. Summary
  15. Chapter 3. Designing functions
  16. Chapter 3. Benefits of functions
  17. Chapter 3. Roles of functions
  18. Chapter 3. What’s a reasonable task for a function?
  19. Chapter 3. The cycle of design of functions with Copilot
  20. Chapter 3. Examples of creating good functions with Copilot
  21. Chapter 3. Summary
  22. Chapter 4. Reading Python code: Part 1
  23. Chapter 4. Asking Copilot to explain code
  24. Chapter 4. Top 10 programming features you need to know: Part 1
  25. Chapter 4. Summary
  26. Chapter 5. Reading Python code: Part 2
  27. Chapter 5. Summary
  28. Chapter 6. Testing and prompt engineering
  29. Chapter 6. Closed-box and open-box testing
  30. Chapter 6. How to test your code
  31. Chapter 6. Revisiting the cycle of designing functions with Copilot
  32. Chapter 6. Full testing example
  33. Chapter 6. Another full testing example—Testing with files
  34. Chapter 6. Summary
  35. Chapter 7. Problem decomposition
  36. Chapter 7. Small examples of top-down design
  37. Chapter 7. Authorship identification
  38. Chapter 7. Authorship identification using top-down design
  39. Chapter 7. Breaking down the process subproblem
  40. Chapter 7. Summary of our top-down design
  41. Chapter 7. Implementing our functions
  42. Chapter 7. Going further
  43. Chapter 7. Summary
  44. Chapter 8. Debugging and better understanding your code
  45. Chapter 8. How to find the bug
  46. Chapter 8. How to fix a bug (once found)
  47. Chapter 8. Modifying our workflow in light of our new skills
  48. Chapter 8. Applying our debugging skills to a new problem
  49. Chapter 8. Using the debugger to better understand code
  50. Chapter 8. A caution about debugging
  51. Chapter 8. Summary
  52. Chapter 9. Automating tedious tasks
  53. Chapter 9. How to use Copilot to write tools
  54. Chapter 9. Example 1: Cleaning up email text
  55. Chapter 9. Example 2: Adding cover pages to PDF files
  56. Chapter 9. Example 3: Merging phone picture libraries
  57. Chapter 9. Summary
  58. Chapter 10. Making some games
  59. Chapter 10. Adding randomness
  60. Chapter 10. Example 1: Bulls and Cows
  61. Chapter 10. Example 2: Bogart
  62. Chapter 10. Summary
  63. Chapter 11. Future directions
  64. Chapter 11. Limitations and future directions
  65. Chapter 11. Summary

Product information

  • Title: Learn AI-Assisted Python Programming, Video Edition
  • Author(s): Leo Porter, Daniel Zingaro
  • Release date: December 2023
  • Publisher(s): Manning Publications
  • ISBN: None