Python Programming : An Introduction to Computer Science

by Zelle, John M.

• ISBN13: 9781887902991
• ISBN10: 1887902996
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-01
• Publisher: Franklin Beedle & Assoc

Summary

This book is suitable for use in a university-level first course in computing (CS1), as well as the increasingly popular course known as CS0. It is difficult for many students to master basic concepts in computer science and programming. A large portion of the confusion can be blamed on the complexity of the tools and materials that are traditionally used to teach CS1 and CS2. This textbook was written with a single overarching goal: to present the core concepts of computer science as simply as possible without being simplistic.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	x
Computers and Programs	1	(24)
The Universal Machine	1	(2)
Program Power	3	(1)
What is Computer Science?	3	(2)
Hardware Basics	5	(1)
Programming Languages	6	(3)
The Magic of Python	9	(5)
Inside a Python Program	14	(3)
Chaos and Computers	17	(1)
Chapter Summary	18	(2)
Exercises	20	(5)
Writing Simple Programs	25	(26)
The Software Development Process	25	(1)
Example Program: Temperature Converter	26	(3)
Elements of Programs	29	(2)
Names	29	(1)
Expressions	30	(1)
Output Statements	31	(2)
Assignment Statements	33	(6)
Simple Assignment	33	(2)
Assigning Input	35	(1)
Simultaneous Assignment	36	(3)
Definite Loops	39	(3)
Example Program: Future Value	42	(3)
Chapter Summary	45	(1)
Exercises	46	(5)
Computing with Numbers	51	(26)
Numeric Data Types	51	(4)
Using the Math Library	55	(3)
Accumulating Results: Factorial	58	(3)
The Limits of Int	61	(3)
Handling Large Numbers: Long Ints	64	(2)
Type Conversions	66	(2)
Chapter Summary	68	(1)
Exercises	69	(8)
Computing with Strings	77	(46)
The String Data Type	77	(5)
Simple String Processing	82	(3)
Strings, Lists, and Sequences	85	(2)
Strings and Secret Codes	87	(10)
String Representation	87	(2)
Programming an Encoder	89	(1)
Programming a Decoder	90	(4)
Other String Operations	94	(1)
From Encoding to Encryption	95	(2)
Input/Output as String Manipulation	97	(9)
Example Application: Date Conversion	97	(5)
String Formatting	102	(2)
Better Change Counter	104	(2)
File Processing	106	(7)
Multi-Line Strings	106	(1)
File Processing	107	(4)
Example Program: Batch Usernames	111	(1)
Coming Attraction: Objects	112	(1)
Chapter Summary	113	(2)
Exercises	115	(8)
Objects and Graphics	123	(42)
Overview	123	(1)
The Object of Objects	124	(1)
Simple Graphics Programming	125	(4)
Using Graphical Objects	129	(6)
Graphing Future Value	135	(8)
Choosing Coordinates	143	(3)
Interactive Graphics	146	(5)
Getting Mouse Clicks	146	(2)
Handling Textual Input	148	(3)
Graphics Module Reference	151	(5)
GraphWin Objects	151	(1)
Graphics Objects	152	(3)
Entry Objects	155	(1)
Displaying Images	155	(1)
Generating Colors	156	(1)
Chapter Summary	156	(1)
Exercises	157	(8)
Defining Functions	165	(34)
The Function of Functions	165	(2)
Functions, Informally	167	(4)
Future Value with a Function	171	(2)
Functions and Parameters: The Details	173	(4)
Getting Results from a Function	177	(10)
Functions That Return Values	177	(4)
Functions that Modify Parameters	181	(6)
Functions and Program Structure	187	(4)
Chapter Summary	191	(1)
Exercises	191	(8)
Decision Structures	199	(34)
Simple Decisions	199	(7)
Example: Temperature Warnings	200	(2)
Forming Simple Conditions	202	(2)
Example: Conditional Program Execution	204	(2)
Two-Way Decisions	206	(4)
Multi-Way Decisions	210	(3)
Exception Handling	213	(4)
Study in Design: Max of Three	217	(8)
Strategy 1: Compare Each to All	218	(2)
Strategy 2: Decision Tree	220	(1)
Strategy 3: Sequential Processing	221	(2)
Strategy 4: Use Python	223	(1)
Some Lessons	224	(1)
Chapter Summary	225	(1)
Exercises	225	(8)
Loop Structures and Booleans	233	(32)
For Loops: A Quick Review	233	(2)
Indefinite Loops	235	(2)
Common Loop Patterns	237	(9)
Interactive Loops	237	(2)
Sentinel Loops	239	(3)
File Loops	242	(2)
Nested Loops	244	(2)
Computing with Booleans	246	(5)
Boolean Operators	246	(4)
Boolean Algebra	250	(1)
Other Common Structures	251	(7)
Post-Test Loop	251	(3)
Loop and a Half	254	(1)
Boolean Expressions as Decisions	254	(4)
Chapter Summary	258	(1)
Exercises	259	(6)
Simulation and Design	265	(30)
Simulating Racquetball	265	(3)
A Simulation Problem	266	(1)
Analysis and Specification	266	(2)
PseudoRandom Numbers	268	(2)
Top-Down Design	270	(13)
Top-Level Design	271	(2)
Separation of Concerns	273	(1)
Second-Level Design	273	(2)
Designing simNGames	275	(2)
Third-Level Design	277	(3)
Finishing Up	280	(2)
Summary of the Design Process	282	(1)
Bottom-Up Implementation	283	(3)
Unit Testing	283	(2)
Simulation Results	285	(1)
Other Design Techniques	286	(2)
Prototyping and Spiral Development	286	(2)
The Art of Design	288	(1)
Chapter Summary	288	(1)
Exercises	289	(6)
Defining Classes	295	(42)
Quick Review of Objects	295	(1)
Example Program: Cannonball	296	(7)
Program Specification	296	(1)
Designing the Program	297	(4)
Modularizing the Program	301	(2)
Defining New Classes	303	(6)
Example: Multi-Sided Dice	303	(4)
Example: The Projectile Class	307	(2)
Data Processing with Class	309	(4)
Objects and Encapsulation	313	(5)
Encapsulating Useful Abstractions	313	(2)
Putting Classes in Modules	315	(1)
Module Documentation	315	(2)
Working with Multiple Modules	317	(1)
Widgets	318	(10)
Example Program: Dice Roller	319	(1)
Building Buttons	319	(4)
Building Dice	323	(4)
The Main Program	327	(1)
Chapter Summary	328	(1)
Exercises	329	(8)
Data Collections	337	(48)
Example Problem: Simple Statistics	337	(2)
Applying Lists	339	(11)
Lists and Arrays	340	(1)
List Operations	341	(4)
Statistics with Lists	345	(5)
Lists of Objects	350	(3)
Designing with Lists and Classes	353	(6)
Case Study: Python Calculator	359	(8)
A Calculator as an Object	359	(1)
Constructing the Interface	360	(3)
Processing Buttons	363	(4)
Non-Sequential Collections	367	(8)
Dictionary Basics	367	(1)
Dictionary Operations	368	(2)
Example Program: Word Frequency	370	(5)
Chapter Summary	375	(1)
Exercises	376	(9)
Object-Oriented Design	385	(40)
The Process of OOD	385	(3)
Case Study: Racquetball Simulation	388	(11)
Candidate Objects and Methods	388	(2)
Implementing SimStats	390	(2)
Implementing RBallGame	392	(3)
Implementing Player	395	(1)
The Complete Program	396	(3)
Case Study: Dice Poker	399	(18)
Program Specification	399	(1)
Identifying Candidate Objects	400	(2)
Implementing the Model	402	(4)
A Text-Based UI	406	(3)
Developing a GUI	409	(8)
OO Concepts	417	(4)
Encapsulation	418	(1)
Polymorphism	418	(1)
Inheritance	419	(2)
Chapter Summary	421	(1)
Exercises	422	(3)
Algorithm Design and Recursion	425	(44)
Searching	426	(5)
A Simple Searching Problem	426	(1)
Strategy 1: Linear Search	427	(1)
Strategy 2: Binary Search	428	(1)
Comparing Algorithms	429	(2)
Recursive Problem-Solving	431	(12)
Recursive Definitions	432	(2)
Recursive Functions	434	(1)
Example: String Reversal	435	(2)
Example: Anagrams	437	(1)
Example: Fast Exponentiation	438	(1)
Example: Binary Search	439	(1)
Recursion vs. Iteration	440	(3)
Sorting Algorithms	443	(7)
Naive Sorting: Selection Sort	443	(2)
Divide and Conquer: Merge Sort	445	(2)
Comparing Sorts	447	(3)
Hard Problems	450	(9)
Towers of Hanoi	450	(5)
The Halting Problem	455	(4)
Conclusion	459	(1)
Chapter Summary	459	(1)
Exercises	460	(9)
Appendix A Python Quick Reference	469	(10)
Appendix B Using Python and IDLE	479	(12)
Appendix C Glossary	491	(12)
Index	503