Python Projects

1 Reviewing Core Python

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS CHAPTER:    

• The basic features of the Python language
• How to use the Python module mechanism
• How to create a new module
• How to create a new package

WROX.COM CODE DOWNLOADS FOR THIS CHAPTER

You can find the wrox.com downloads for this chapter at www.wrox.com/go/pythonprojects on the Download Code tab. The code is in the Chapter 1 download and individually named according to the names throughout the chapter.

This chapter starts with a brief review of Python—in case you have forgotten some of the basics—and provides a foundation upon which the rest of the book is built. If you are confident in your ability with basic Python coding, feel free to skip ahead until you see content that might be of interest to you. After all, you can always come back to this chapter later if you find you need a refresher.

In this chapter you start off by looking at the Python ecosystem, the data types, and the major control structures and then move on to defining functions and classes. Next, you look at the Python module and package system. And, finally, you create a basic new package of modules.

By the end of this chapter, you should be ready to take the next step and start working with the standard Python modules on real project tasks.

Exploring the Python Language and the Interpreter

Python is a dynamic but strictly typed programming language. It is both interpreted and compiled in that the original source code is compiled into byte code ...