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The complete beginner's guide to Python, for young people who want to start today
Adventures in Python is designed for 11-to 15-year olds who want to teach themselves Python programming, but don't know where to start. Even if you have no programming experience at all, this easy to follow format and clear, simple instruction will get you up and running quickly. The book walks you through nine projects that teach you the fundamentals of programming in general, and Python in particular, gradually building your skills until you have the confidence and ability to tackle your own projects. Video clips accompany each chapter to provide even more detailed explanation of important concepts, so you feel supported every step of the way.
Python is one of the top programming languages worldwide, with an install base in the millions. It's a favourite language at Google, YouTube, the BBC, and Spotify, and is the primary programming language for the Raspberry Pi. As an open-source language, Python is freely downloadable, with extensive libraries readily available, making it an ideal entry into programming for the beginner. Adventures in Python helps you get started, giving you the foundation you need to follow your curiosity.
* Start learning Python at its most basic level
* Learn where to acquire Python and how to set it up
* Understand Python syntax and interpretation for module programming
* Develop the skills that apply to any programming language
Python programming skills are invaluable, and developing proficiency gives you a head start in learning other languages like C++, Objective-C, and Java. When learning feels like fun, you won't ever want to stop - so get started today with Adventures in Python.
List of contents
Introduction 1
Adventure 1
Diving into Python 23
What Is Programming? 24
Opening IDLE 25
Returning to Your First Python Program 26
It Isn't Working--Grrr! 28
Using a File Editor 30
Asking Questions with Variables 33
A Bit About Variables 35
Using Variables for a Fill-in-the-Blanks Story 37
Making the Program Make Decisions: Conditionals 39
Using if Statements 39
Nested if Statements 41
Creating an Imaginary Vending Machine 43
Repeating Code with Loops 45
Using while Loops 45
Infinite while Loops 47
Praise Generator 48
A Bigger Adventure: Spaceship Control Console 50
Set-Up and Password 50
Using the Console to Do Things 52
Adventure 2
Drawing with Turtle Graphics 57
Getting Started with Turtle 57
Using Variables to Change Angles and Lengths 61
Using Addition to Draw a Spiral 64
Saving Some Space with Loops 65
A Shape with 360 Sides: Drawing a Circle 67
Controlling the Number of Sides Using for Loops 68
Changing the Fill Colour in a Shape 71
Creating Functions to Reuse Your Code 72
Shape Presets 75
Adding Randomly Generated Pictures 76
Adventure 3
Windows, Buttons, and Other GUI Stuff 83
Creating Buttons 84
Changing the Button Text on Click 87
Counting Clicks 88
Creating Text Boxes 90
Writing It Backwards 92
Adding Passwords 93
Building a Random Sentence Generator 96
Programming a Guessing Game 99
Adventure 4
More GUI Elements with Tkinter 105
Creating Sliders 105
How Colours Work on Computers and as Hexadecimal Values 109
Changing the Canvas Colour 111
Making the Colour Picker 113
Adding a Text Box 116
Creating a Click Speed Game 117
Adventure 5
Drawing Shapes with PyGame 123
Installing PyGame 123
My First PyGame 124
Creating Rectangles 127
Creating a Rectangle 127
A Rainbow of Rectangles 128
Colour Grid 131
Creating Ellipses 133
Wobbling Circle 133
Saving Your Images 135
Saving a Single Image 135
Saving a Series of Images 136
Adventure 6
Adding Keyboard Input with PyGame 139
Using Keyboard Input 140
Other Keys You Can Use 142
Creating the Game 142
Introducing Full Movement 146
Moving the Player Offscreen 148
Adding the Ball 150
Creating Collisions 152
Goal! 154
Adding a Time Limit 157
Adventure 7
Creative Ways to Use a Mouse with PyGame 161
Getting the Mouse Position 161
Making a Button 163
Moving Target 166
Exploding Clicks 169
Making a Mesh 172
Creating Mouse Trails 175
Adventure 8
Using Images with PyGame 181
Loading an Image 181
Layering Images 184
Randomly Layering Images 186
Adding a Moustache to a Photograph 188
Making Sprites 191
Creating a Walking Animation 191
Walking in All Directions 195
Teleportation 197
Adventure 9
Using Sounds and Music with PyGame 203
Playing Sounds 203
Creating a Noise Loop 205
Making Keyboard Sound Effects 207
Using Music with Pyt
