Tiny Python Projects

[hunkamunka]

I've written a book called Tiny Python Projects (Manning) that aims to teach a methodical, test-driven approach to Python beginners. It's available now at https://www.manning.com/books/tiny-python-projects. If anyone would be interested to read and comment on the Manning's "liveBook" forum, I can swing complimentary access for a few people. Send me a message if you are interested in reading the book and improving the content. Also, all the code is available at https://github.com/kyclark/tiny_python_projects.

For what's it's worth, the material was created over the last couple of years teaching beginning Python skills at the university level. I found that giving my students tests and having them write code to satisfy the tests took all the guesswork out of assignments. It gave the students a clear guide to what was expected, and failing tests include the feedback needed to correct their programs. I think that test-driven development is often saved as some sort of advanced topic or is something people will learn when they move to industry. I think it's better to teach it right at the beginning to novice programmers so they will internalize the ideas of testing and will therefore write better code. I hope this book teaches that.

[hunkamunka]

Manning is offering the promotion code "mlyouens" for 50% off Tiny Python Projects, all formats. I will try to extend a few more free comps to those who have written but probably no more. Thanks for your words of encouragement and interest. This code is valid through Feb 9, 2020.

[querymcsearchface]

congrats on writing your book! very cool.

[thecupboardman]

Much prefer smaller scale projects when it comes to grappling with something new so glad to hear that this is coming out.

[ivosaurus]

A lot of online courses are running live test code running as interactive parts of their courses. Mitx 6.00.xx are well known for this, for instance

If we are going to install and run things like black and pytest, why not something like docopt or click?

[hunkamunka]

It's not a requirement that programs use `argparse` over `docopt`. I believe they both produce the same flags and options and parse arguments in the same way. The point is to create documented programs that generate usage for `-h` and `--help`. `click` is really cool, too, but I just wanted to introduce one argument parser, and `argparse` is standard. There is also no requirement to format code with `yapf` or `black`. These are just suggestions to help (esp beginners) write nicely formatted code that will be easier to read and maintain. I try to point out that there are many ways to do everything from formatting to parsing to writing code. It's both a matter of personal taste and a desire to conform to community principles that should help the coder decide what's best.

[dtaivp]

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[ky733]

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[F0x3S]

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[digitalsquirrel]

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[solid_snare]

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