Python 3 Object Oriented Programming [Paperback]

Dusty Phillips (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1849511268 | ISBN-13: 978-1849511261 | Publication Date: July 26, 2010

The book begins with the very foundations of OOP and then uses practical examples to show how to correctly implement Object Oriented Programming in Python. Many examples are taken from real-world projects. The book focuses on high-level design as well as the gritty details of the Python syntax. The provided exercises inspire the reader to think about his or her own code, rather than providing solved problems. If you're new to Object Oriented Programming techniques, or if you have basic Python skills and wish to learn in depth how and when to correctly apply Object Oriented Programming in Python, this is the book for you. If you are an object-oriented programmer for other languages, you too will find this book a useful introduction to Python, as it uses terminology you are already familiar with. Python 2 programmers seeking a leg up in the new world of Python 3 will also find the book beneficial, and you need not necessarily know Python 2.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dusty Phillips

Dusty Phillips is a Canadian freelance software developer, teacher, martial artist, and open source aficionado. He is closely affiliated with the Arch Linux community and other open source projects. He maintains the Arch Linux storefronts and has compiled the Arch Linux Handbook. Dusty holds a master's degree in computer science, with specialization in Human Computer Interaction. He currently has six different Python interpreters installed on his computer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 404 pages
• Publisher: Packt Publishing (July 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1849511268
• ISBN-13: 978-1849511261
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #290,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #81 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > Python

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An approachable way to get beyond just simple Python scripting, November 21, 2010

By 

comsys - See all my reviews

This review is from: Python 3 Object Oriented Programming (Paperback)

Python is famous for being a 'glue' language that people use to write scripts piecing together other pieces of code, but it's readability really lends itself well to being used for larger projects. That said, unless you're a programmer coming from another language (most object oriented books target either Java or C++/C#) who already has a solid base in creating projects in an OO way, you're likely to only know the syntax (creating classes, instances) for it, and possibly wonder what the fuss is. It's hard to find a Python book that has more than a quick chapter on OO, when in fact creating an OO program from analysis and design to implementation is far more than knowing the keywords. If you're one of those who learned how to program in Python from the tutorial (and possibly only learned programming in Python), this is the book to get to help move you along with some practical tips and exercises. Unlike a couple other reviewers, I paid for my copy, and just for the way it made things click for me, I'd recommend it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great OOP for Python developers, August 11, 2010

By 

Og Maciel (Chapel Hill, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Python 3 Object Oriented Programming (Paperback)

I can't claim to have looked hard for a Python book on object oriented programming (OOP) but I was immediately attracted to the title of this book. Sure, you can find small tutorials here and there about some specific facet of OOP but I don't recall ever reading something that covers designing public interfaces using abstraction, encapsulation, etc, etc with good and practical examples! If you have, please drop me a link in the comments.
Python 3 Object Oriented Programming by Dusty Phillips does a very decent job of not only introducing the reader to the terminology and the object oriented paradigm (something that is not too complicated to understand) but also offers a comprehensive step-by-step guide that will take you from theory to a real world project. I've always felt that anyone can pick up a book about programming and learn its syntax by heart. But putting it all together and designing something that will actually work is something that you usually learn by reading other people's code or, if you're lucky enough, from a mentor.
Overall I felt that the book was well written with a great selection of sample code. Whether you already know how to do object oriented programming for other languages or are new to the whole concept and want to learn everything about it, I definitely recommend this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The new standard resource for Python developers, August 24, 2011

By 

Branko Vukelic - See all my reviews

This review is from: Python 3 Object Oriented Programming (Paperback)

Disclaimer: Dusty Phillips is my dear friend and mentor.

A little disclosure. The working title of this book was "Programming Python and when not to do it" (I'm sorry, Dusty, if I remember it wrong). It was one of the books I should have read before going too deep. Unfortunately it wasn't released yet when I was already too deep into Python.

Python 3 OOP is a mixture of introduction to general concepts in programming applicable to just about every OOP language out there, and a bunch of practical advice and examples that will stop you from reinventing the wheel more than once. In other words, you will be getting a good balance of hands-on and theory. The book will guide you through the basics of OOP in general terms, and then allow you to dive straight into Python object-oriented programming. However, the purpose of reading this book gets apparent later on, as the author explains when to actually use all the powerful tools you have at your disposal, and further expands with with various shortcuts you can take to avoid programming when you can.

In the last chapters you will have a wealth of design patterns that you can, again, apply on most programming languages. The book ends with a list of very useful libraries that can save you time with common tasks like XML-parsing, UI, databases, web development...

Each chapter is augmented by a set of exercises which are no doubt created based on his professional experience as a developer. You will get a chance to apply your newly acquired knowledge on things expert programmers deal with on daily basis.