Automate The Boring Stuff With Python, 2nd Edition : Practical Programming For Total Beginners by Al Sweigart
View book: Automate The Boring Stuff With Python, 2nd Edition : Practical Programming For Total Beginners
Are you tired of spending hours on repetitive tasks like renaming files or updating spreadsheet cells? What if there was a way to have your computer do these tedious tasks for you? Well, now there is! The second edition of the popular book, “Automate the Boring Stuff with Python,” will teach you how to write programs that can effortlessly automate these kinds of tasks.
This international fan favorite has been fully revised and now includes exciting new content. Not only does it cover all the basics of Python 3, but it also explores the rich library of modules that Python offers for specific tasks. From scraping data off the web to filling out forms, renaming files, organizing folders, sending email responses, and even merging, splitting, or encrypting PDFs – this book has got it all covered.
One of the highlights of this new edition is a brand-new chapter dedicated to input validation. You’ll also find tutorials on automating Gmail and Google Sheets, as well as tips for automatically updating CSV files. These recent additions showcase the limitless potential of automation and how it can drastically improve your efficiency.
The book provides detailed, step-by-step instructions that will guide even those without any coding experience through each program. As you progress, you’ll be able to create useful tools that will enhance your programming skills. At the end of each chapter, there are practice projects that will challenge you to improve upon the programs you’ve built and apply your newfound skills to automate similar tasks.
So, say goodbye to boring and time-consuming tasks. With “Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 2nd Edition,” you can learn how to harness the power of automation while simultaneously getting yourself up to speed with Python. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced coder, this book is a must-have.
Learn Python Programming: Automate the Boring Stuff and Increase Productivity
Hello and welcome to the online course for the “Automate the Boring Stuff with Python” book. I’m Al Swaggart, a software developer and tech book author. “Automate the Boring Stuff with Python” is my fourth programming book, and now I’ve created an online course that follows the content of the book.
Learning to code has become increasingly popular, with websites like Code Academy and Khan Academy offering courses and platforms like Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) providing programming education. Coding is often referred to as the new literacy, and it is believed that everyone in the 21st century will need to learn how to code. Even if you don’t want to change careers to software engineering, you may still receive recommendations to learn coding.
Is there a reason why the average office worker, student, or administrator should learn to code? Absolutely. Many jobs require the use of laptops and desktop PCs as their primary tools, and these tasks often involve hours of mindless clicking and typing. Learning to code allows you to program the computer to automate these tasks, saving you time and effort. It’s a valuable skill to have in the digital age.
How is this course different?
This course, “Automate the Boring Stuff with Python,” is unique because it focuses on practical programming tasks. It doesn’t require knowledge of complex algorithms or object-oriented programming paradigms. The goal is to get you up to speed quickly, creating small programs that can actually make your life easier.
If you’re a computer science student or aspiring software engineer, this course can also be a great first step to develop your programming skills. Python, the language used in this course, is considered the best first language to learn. It has a simple syntax and a gentle learning curve, making it accessible for beginners. Furthermore, Python is widely used in the real world, including by companies like Google, NASA, Yahoo, YouTube, JP Morgan Chase, and Industrial Light and Magic. So learning Python can open up numerous opportunities for you.
Learning to code not only increases your productivity but also serves as a fun and creative skill. Unlike other creative hobbies that may require expensive supplies, coding only requires a computer and free software called the Python interpreter.
Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to do:
- Open a web browser and go to Python.org.
- Download and install Python for your operating system, making sure to choose a version 3 Python (e.g., Python 3.5) rather than a version 2 Python (e.g., Python 2.7).
- Once installed, open the Python software and its editor program called IDLE.
Throughout this course, it is highly recommended that you follow along with the videos by typing the code examples into IDLE. This active engagement helps you develop muscle memory and ensures that you understand the concepts.
When programming, it’s important to remember that professional software developers spend a significant amount of time searching for information on the internet. Programming can be complex, and it’s impossible to remember everything. So don’t hesitate to search for solutions online, especially when encountering error messages.
If you come across an error message that you don’t understand, a great starting point is to copy and paste the message into a search engine. The first few results will likely lead you to Stack Overflow, a popular question and answer site that can provide helpful insights.
When asking questions, be sure to provide detailed information about what you’re trying to do, what error messages you’re encountering, and what you’ve already tried. Specifying the version of Python you’re using and your operating system can also be helpful. Asking effective questions and knowing how to find answers are essential skills on your programming journey.
So let’s begin this course, “Automate the Boring Stuff with Python,” and embark on an exciting journey of coding for practical tasks.
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