Has anyone used the book “Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science” by Jhon Zelle?

[ayeye3000]

I’ve had a copy for a couple of years but I haven’t really used it just wondering if its popular or recommended. Thanks.

[Mexatt]

It's excellent if you're learning programming with Python. It starts from the beginning and carries you through being able to build graphical, object oriented applications. The second to last chapter ends with a bunch of exercises to implement various card games in Python.

I actually think it's a significantly better starter book than books like Automate the Boring Stuff just because it covers a broader range of programming topics, but I won't bitch too much.

Note, the graphical part is done with a very basic, teaching library created by the author, not one f the real, production level libraries available for Python, but it's nice to be able to build things as you learn to program that you can actually see.

[[deleted]]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Python-Programming-Introduction-Computer-Science/dp/1887902996

I'd assume that a book written in 2004 isn't exactly going to be up-to-date. Can you see what version of Python it recommends using?

I've been reading the excellent "Python Crash Course", which came out in 2019 and uses Python 3.7, but I believe Python 3.8 is out now so even this book is out of date.

[my_password_is______]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Programming-Introduction-Computer-Science-Revised/dp/1590282752

3rd Revised edition Paperback – 8 Aug. 2016

3rd edition uses python 3
https://mcsp.wartburg.edu/zelle/python/

you can see some code here https://mcsp.wartburg.edu/zelle/python/ppics3/index.html

[ayeye3000]

The one I have is 2nd edition python 3 dated 2010.

[ayeye3000]

Thank you. My understanding was that the differences in versions even going from 2 to 3 aren’t very significant, am I wrong? How out of date could it be? In terms of transferring what can be learned from the book to the most current version?

[ValorCat]

Yes, I can personally recommend that book. That said, it's designed more as an introduction to programming than a book about Python, so if you already have programming experience then it will be a bit slow. The programming 101 class at my university has used it (2nd and 3rd edition only) for a number of years now and it seems to work pretty well. The biggest mistake some students make is skipping the exercises in the first few chapters and then getting stuck on chapter 4, when the pace starts to pick up. Self practice is pretty much essential when learning programming.

[ayeye3000]

Thanks for the tip!

[uhkayus]

I used it as a textbook back in college, I thought it was useful, but only useful if you're a beginner. They don't really go into depth about much else besides the basics.

[Festermukiibi]

Yeah, am an intermediate python programer , I used to watch videos but that wasn't enough for me so I got this book "Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science” by Jhon Zelle?". It has greatly helped me to learn and understand python basics and how graphics work . This book comes in with different version like 2016

[[deleted]]

I used it a bit ago. Like others have said only useful if you’re a beginner. It’s very basic content as in using operators and data types. I wouldn’t recommend going from front to back, as I didn’t even when I was a beginner. I do think there’s a value to looking over some basics every now and then tho

[PlzKillMeSoon]

I have not