Introduction to Python
Python is in the top five most wanted languages globally. Python has surpassed Java as the top language used to introduce students to programming and computer science.
Why Python?
- Easy to read syntax makes learning Python much easier. Python also requires less code to complete basic tasks, making it an economical language to learn. Python code is often 3-5 times shorter than Java, and 5-10 times shorter than C++.
- Python has a rich array of libraries - think pre-written code - that you can draw on to do some powerful stuff. When you want to automate some task, you will find yourself reaching for Python. When you want to analyse some data, there are libraries of code there for you to use. Scraping web sites for information, Python is your friend. You get the picture.
- Python is an object oriented language. It is not just for scripting. Conquering object oriented principles with Python will give you the confidence to move between other object oriented languages too.
- You want to get into web development? Django — the popular open source web application framework written in Python — is the foundation of such sites as Pinterest, Bit Bucket, and Instagram
What is a Webinar?
A webinar is a live meeting that takes place over the web. Participants can view documents and applications. In real time, you will be able watch our instructors explain and demonstrate with coding examples. Shared audio allows for the discussion and interaction.
Our webinars are typically limited to small groups. Our instructors have found that small, focused groups provide a great way for participants to ask questions.
Webinars are an efficient way to transmit and share information. There is no transportation involved – so webinars save time and money! You can learn from the luxury of your own home or anywhere you have computer with an internet connection.
Practical and theoretical focus
This course has a theoretical and practical focus and will give you the confidence to start writing your own programs.
Across the ten weeks of lectures, the student will be introduced to the areas listed below. To reinforce the learning process, each lecture will allocate some time to problem solving where students will work through some Python exercises with the aid of the instructor.
Topics
Getting Started
- Source files to .pyc files and PVM
- Dynamic vs statically typed languages
- Variables
- Assignment
- Relational operators
Control Flow
- if statement
- Indentation
- while loop
- break statement
- continue statement
Data Types
- Numbers
- Strings
- Sets
- Lists
- Tuples
- Dictionaries
Functions
- Defining a function
- Parameters
- Local variables, Global variables and Scope
- Lambda functions
Introduction to Unit Testing
- TDD
- Assert methods
- Set and tear down
- Setting up test suites
- Automating the running of test suites
- Good practices
Start date: Week beginning August 6th
Course Details
- Cost: €995
- Duration: 10 weeks
- Contact hours: 2 hours per week
Classes
- Classes
- Objects
- Class, Static and Instance Methods
- __init__ method
- Inheritance
- Polymorphism
- Operator overloading
Exception Handling
- Try-Except
- Try-Finally
- Handling Exceptions
- Raising Exceptions
- User Defined Exceptions
Packages and Modules
- What is a package
- What is a module
- importing
Files
- Reading / Writing to files
- File iterators
- Pickling
- Json
Text processing with Regex Operations
- Regex syntax
- re module
- Match objects
- Search vs Match
- Practical applications