I. The Core Language Page 1 1. Getting Started Page 3 Why Python? Page 3 How to Run Python Programs Page 10 A First Look at Module Files Page 17 Python Configuration Details Page 19 Summary Page 24 Exercises Page 24 2. Types and Operators Page 26 Python Program Structure Page 26 Why Use Built-in Types? Page 27 Numbers Page 28 Strings Page 35 Lists Page 44 Dictionaries Page 49 Tuples Page 53 Files Page 56 General Object Properties Page 58 Built-in Type Gotchas Page 63 Summary Page 66 Exercises Page 67 3. Basic Statements Page 70 Assignment Page 71 Expressions Page 74 Print Page 75 if Tests Page 77 while Loops Page 84 for Loops Page 87 Common Coding Gotchas Page 92 Summary Page 93 Exercises Page 94 4. Functions Page 97 Why Use Functions? Page 97 Function Basics Page 98 Scope Rules in Functions Page 101 Argument Passing Page 105 Odds and Ends Page 110 Function Gotchas Page 117 Summary Page 123 Exercises Page 123 5. Modules Page 126 Why Use Modules? Page 126 Module Basics Page 127 Module Files Are Namespaces Page 129 Import Model Page 131 Reloading Modules Page 133 Odds and Ends Page 136 Module Gotchas Page 143 Summary Page 148 Exercises Page 148 6. Classes Page 150 Why Use Classes? Page 150 Class Basics Page 152 Using the Class Statement Page 158 Using Class Methods Page 160 Inheritance Searches Namespace Trees Page 161 Operator Overloading in Classes Page 164 Namespace Rules: The Whole Story Page 168 Designing with Classes Page 170 Odds and Ends Page 181 Class Gotchas Page 183 Summary Page 189 Exercises Page 190 7. Exceptions Page 194 Why Use Exceptions? Page 194 Exception Basics Page 196 Exception Idioms Page 200 Exception Catching Modes Page 201 Odds and Ends Page 204 Exception Gotchas Page 208 Summary Page 211 Exercises Page 212 II. The Outer Layers Page 213 8. Built-in Tools Page 215 Built-in Functions Page 217 Library Modules Page 224 Exercises Page 242 9. Common Tasks in Python Page 243 Data Structure Manipulations Page 243 Manipulating Files Page 249 Manipulating Programs Page 262 Internet-Related Activities Page 265 Bigger Examples Page 267 Exercises Page 273 10. Frameworks and Applications Page 275 An Automated Complaint System Page 276 Interfacing with COM: Cheap Public Relations Page 282 A Tkinter-Based GUI Editor for Managing Form Data Page 288 Design Considerations Page 293 JPython: The Felicitous Union of Python and Java Page 294 Other Frameworks and Applications Page 302 Exercises Page 304 III. Appendixes Page 307 A. Python Resources Page 309 B. Platform-Specific Topics Page 321 C. Solutions to Exercises Page 326 Index Page 357