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Magnus Lie Hetland

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Python Algorithms: Mastering Basic Algorithms in the Python Language (Expert's Voice in Open Source) 1st ed. Edition

by Magnus Lie Hetland (Author)

3.9 20 ratings

Part of: Expert's Voice in Open Source (17 books)

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BEGINNING PYTHON: FROM NOVICE TO PROFESSIONAL [Paperback] LIE HETLAND
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Python Algorithms explains the Python approach to algorithm analysis and design. Written by Magnus Lie Hetland, author of Beginning Python, this book is sharply focused on classical algorithms, but it also gives a solid understanding of fundamental algorithmic problem-solving techniques.

The book deals with some of the most important and challenging areas of programming and computer science, but in a highly pedagogic and readable manner.
The book covers both algorithmic theory and programming practice, demonstrating how theory is reflected in real Python programs.
Well-known algorithms and data structures that are built into the Python language are explained, and the user is shown how to implement and evaluate others himself.

About the Author

Magnus Lie Hetland is an experienced Python programmer, having used the language since the late 1990s. He is also an associate professor of algorithms at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, having taught algorithms for the better part of a decade. Hetland is the author of Practical Python and Beginning Python, first and second editions, as well as several scientific papers.

ISBN-10

1430232374
ISBN-13

978-1430232377
Edition

1st ed.
Publisher

Apress
Publication date

November 24, 2010
Part of series

Expert's Voice in Open Source
Language

English
Dimensions

8.5 x 0.76 x 10.25 inches
Print length

352 pages
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Apress; 1st ed. edition (November 24, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1430232374
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1430232377
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.28 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.76 x 10.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,541,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,457 in Python Programming
- #3,317 in Software Development (Books)
- #120,073 in Unknown

Customer Reviews:
3.9 20 ratings

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3.9 out of 5

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Shirly Tao

Good for coding newbies

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2014

Verified Purchase

For those who want to learn algorithm but only know some scripting languages or some sorts, this is definitely ideal!

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Sumit Pal

Very good book - that gives a good overview of algorithms using Python

Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2011

Verified Purchase

This is a very good and refreshing book - that brings together Algorithms and Python programming together very well.
The algorithms tackled in the book - are not simple / routine ones like sorting/searching - but more higher level ones - like let us say Topological Sorting and its applications and varitations - how to solve a Maze Traversal problem etc.

I found the book very thoughtfully written with good anecdotal references and applications of similar types of algorithms to different problems.

I would have given the book 5*s had I not encountered some places in the book - where the author assumes that the reader probably knows/understands everything - some sections have to be re-read to understand those unclear areas. I think the author uses more pithy sentences rather than more verbose and break out the steps more.

This is a very handy book - where a lot of things can be learnt - if the book is read end to end and read carefully.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Victor Noagbodji

For Intermediate Python Programmers Who Want to Master Basic Algorithms

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2011

Python Algorithms is of the same level as the book Pro Python by Marty Alchin,
also by Apress. So warning: this is not for beginners. Especially if you are
just starting with both Python and algorithms. Experienced algorists would
probably find their way through the book though.

So much for apologies, to use Dijsktra's words. This has been my hardest Apress
so far and second reading is in order. Oh and next time, I won't be skipping
the exercices. I advise you do the same. Some are very necessary if you want to
have a good grasp of all the algorithms covered.

Professor and author Magnus Lie Hetland is an experienced algorist and Python
coder. He promises in Chapter 1 (Introduction) to make you master basic
algorithms with Python and teach you how to create new ones. *cough* I think I
missed that latter part in the book. I only gathered that we can transform few
basic algorithms and apply them to new problems, especially graph algorithms.

It is thus important that you dont skip Chapter 5 (Traversal: The Skeleton Key
of Algorithmics) where I think the basics are found. No really, you don't want
to skip it. And while we are at it, you don't want to skip Chapter 4 (Induction
and Recursion... and Reduction) either. The idea of using reduction when
solving new problems is discussed in full in that chapter.

The last chapter I want to mention is Chapter 11 [Hard Problems and (Limited)
Sloppiness]. Weird but important terms used by experienced algorists are
discussed. I am talking about: solvable, tractable, P, NP, NPC, NP-hard, SAT,
etc...

The chapters I have not mentioned were difficult for me to understand. I wont
say more about them.

You got to like author Lie Hetland for his frankness though. Dijsktra (who gets
chapter 9 entirely dedicated to his graph algorithm) wrote in his preface to A
Discipline of Programming: "For the absence of a bibliography I offer neither
explanation nor apology." Here we have a different author, he writes: "Even so,
I'm sure I have failed in many ways, and if you have suggestions for improving
the book, I'd be happy to hear from you". So can I bitch a little?

The discussion for most algorithms are really visual and that is beautiful...
unless picturing them gets in the way. In chapter 3 (Counting 101) everything
is explained using metaphors. Sums are stories of knights jousting at
tournaments and algorists shaking hands at conferences. The width and the
height of binary trees are the hare and the tortoise. Ice cream cones are used
for doubling and halving processes. Combinations and permutations are stories
of movie goers trying to get tickets.

You quickly get lost in the pictures if like me you are the imaginative type.
So many images, so many stories, in only 25 pages. The whole thing becomes more
a distraction than an actual explanation. I felt that the author sometimes
reduces the reader to hysterical despair with his ability to switch between
stories and metaphors.

I mentioned that I took one algorithm class in college. I remember we were
given formulas, we proved them, and we convinced ourselves that they were
correct. That's it. Don't get me wrong though, Chapter 3 is easily my favorite,
but the pattern repeats itself thorough the book with never ending metaphor
compilations.

All in all, if you are a Python programmer interested in algorithms, this book
is for you. It's a good read. Take your time though, don't rush the reading
like I did and you will learn a lot.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

MFamB

Had high hopes for this book and how it could help increase my Python skills.

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2015

Verified Purchase

Someone else appropriately posted that this book is way too verbose for its intended purpose and I whole heartedly agree.
The author berates points in this book that could be explained succinctly, I recently found a web site by a Greek comp-sci undergrad who explains in very plain english how to understand the theoretical computer that every algorithmist uses as a base line.
The author of the web page also explained very simply how to understand Theta, Omega, Big/Little O, tightly bound and loosely bound and so on.

There is a prevalent myth floating around in the world that certain mathematical formulas, scientific concepts and statistical theories are just too esoteric and abstract to explain in real plain english. From reading Magnus book I would say that he is one of those people who chooses to continue to perpetuate that myth.

I would post the link to the website but Amazon deletes web links. But search for a 'gentle introduction to algorithm complexity' and you should find it. The author of that website has a talent to explain technical concepts succinctly and understandbely, you only have to bring some programing background and motivation to understand it.

By contrast in order to read and comprehend this book you have to bring an exposure to and a fetish for theory, indeed a fetish.
I cant imagine what practical Python programmer or any programmer this book is geared for.
I dare say that even for an advanced comp-sci majors this book will become boring very quickly either because it covers everything you *should* already know or you just want to get down to programming.

Where the author could have used plain english and expanded on practical technical concepts the author instead chose to indulge in abstracting theory. A missed opportunity to bring knowledge to a larger audience, instead the author indulges in the theatrics of dedicating a whole book to complicating things.

I doubt the Second Edition is any more readable.

12 people found this helpful

Helpful