Python: Learn the Basics FAST From Python Programming Experts (2015)

Chapter 3: Ten Useful Tips from Python Experts

This chapter focuses on tips provided by tech experts regarding the usage of the Python programming language. These tips are intended for beginners.

Dynamic Input - When using programming languages that involve statically typed values like C++ and Java, you need to define every function argument as well as the data type for your function return values.

Python, however, is a language that uses dynamic inputs. Here, you will never need to define the data info of anything. Python will automatically take note of the data types that you enter, depending on the values that you will use.

Running scripts through Python - It is easy to run Python scripts. For example, on Unix operating systems, you can simply use the command line:

$ python -r & mypyprog.py

Interconnecting Strings - If you want to combine or link several strings, you can simply use the (+) symbol. For example:

>> print “light” + “saber”

lightsaber

Finding names that are defined by modules - The “dir()” function can be utilized to know which names are defined by a module. It produces a classified set of strings.

Accessing the documentation of a module - If you want to access the integrated documentation of a module, you can just use ._doc_.

Running the _init_method - This will be activated immediately once an object that belongs to a class is manifested. The “constructor” in other programming languages like Java, C++ or C is similar to Python’s _init_method.

Using the Python Interpreter to run programs - The interactive interpreter used in this programming language lets you use all the commands available in Python. You can just send the commands through the command prompt and you will get results quickly.

The = and == operators - when it comes to assignments, the symbol “=” is used by Python, while the symbol “==” is employed to compare values. Currently, the Python language does not accept linear assignment, which means the programmer will not accidentally assign values when he is trying to perform a comparison.

Working with Statements using Python - When separating blocks of code, Python uses an indentation and a colon, while for separating assignments, a carriage return is used. C++, C, and other compiled languages utilize semicolons to divide statements and brackets (the curly ones) to divide blocks of codes.

Employ modules to manage your files - You may want to break up your programs into multiple files to make them more manageable as they increase in size.

Python lets you place several functions into a single file and convert them into a module. You can incorporate this file into other applications and scripts. They should have .py extensions.