Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner

Table of Contents
BackCover
Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner
Introduction
Chapter 1: Getting Started: The Game over Program
	Examining the Game Over Program
	Introducing Python
	Setting Up Python on Windows
	Setting Up Python on Other Operating Systems
	Introducing the Python IDLE
	Back to the Game Over Program
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 2: Types, Variables, and Simple I/O: The Useless Trivia Program
	Introducing the Useless Trivia Program
	Using Quotes with Strings
	Using Escape Sequences with Strings
	Concatenating and Repeating Strings
	Working with Numbers
	Understanding Variables
	Getting User Input
	Using String Methods
	Using the Right Types
	Converting Values
	Back to the Useless Trivia Program
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 3: Branching, while Loops, and Program Planning: The Guess My Number Game
	Introducing the Guess My Number Game
	Generating Random Numbers
	Using the if Structure
	Using the if-else Structure
	Using the if-elif-else Structure
	Creating while Loops
	Avoiding Infinite Loops
	Treating Values as Conditions
	Creating Intentional Infinite Loops
	Using Compound Conditions
	Planning Your Programs
	Returning to the Guess My Number Game
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 4: for Loops, Strings, and Tuples: The Word Jumble Game
	Introducing the Word Jumble Game
	Counting with a for Loop
	Using Sequence Operators and Functions with Strings
	Indexing Strings
	Understanding String Immutability
	Building a New String
	Slicing Strings
	Creating Tuples
	Using Tuples
	Back to the Word Jumble Game
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 5: Lists and Dictionaries: The Hangman Game
	Introducing the Hangman Game
	Using Lists
	Using List Methods
	Understanding When to Use Tuples Instead of Lists
	Using Nested Sequences
	Understanding Shared References
	Using Dictionaries
	Back to the Hangman Game
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 6: Functions: The Tic-Tac-Toe Game
	Introducing the Tic-Tac-Toe Game
	Creating Functions
	Using Parameters and Return Values
	Using Keyword Arguments and Default Parameter Values
	Using Global Variables and Constants
	Back to the Tic-Tac-Toe Game
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 7: Files and Exceptions: The Trivia Challenge Game
	Introducing the Trivia Challenge Game
	Reading from Text Files
	Writing to a Text File
	Storing Complex Data in Files
	Handling Exceptions
	Back to the Trivia Challenge Game
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 8: Software Objects: The Critter Caretaker Program
	Introducing the Critter Caretaker Program
	Understanding Object-Oriented Basics
	Creating Classes, Methods, and Objects
	Using Constructors
	Using Attributes
	Using Class Attributes and Static Methods
	Understanding Object Encapsulation
	Using Private Attributes and Private Methods
	Understanding New-Style and Old-Style Classes
	Controlling Attribute Access
	Back to the Critter Caretaker Program
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 9: Object-Oriented Programming: The Blackjack Game
	Introducing the Blackjack Game
	Sending and Receiving Messages
	Combining Objects
	Using Inheritance to Create New Classes
	Extending a Class through Inheritance
	Altering the Behavior of Inherited Methods
	Understanding Polymorphism
	Creating Modules
	Back to the Blackjack Game
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 10: GUI Development: The Mad Lib Program
	Introducing the Mad Lib Program
	Examining a GUI
	Understanding Event-Driven Programming
	Using a Root Window
	Using Labels
	Using Buttons
	Creating a GUI Using a Class
	Binding Widgets and Event Handlers
	Using Text and Entry Widgets and the Grid Layout Manager
	Using Check Buttons
	Using Radio Buttons
	Back to the Mad Lib Program
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 11: Graphics: The Pizza Panic Game
	Introducing the Pizza Panic Game
	Introducing the Pygame and LiveWires Packages
	Creating a Graphics Window
	Setting a Background Image
	Understanding the Graphics Coordinate System
	Displaying Text
	Displaying a Message
	Understanding the Games_Object Class
	Displaying a Sprite
	Moving Sprites
	Dealing with Screen Boundaries
	Handling Mouse Input
	Detecting Collisions
	Back to the Pizza Panic Game
	Summary
	Challenges
Chapter 12: Sound, Animation, and Program Development: The Astrocrash Game
	Introducing the Astrocrash Game
	Reading the Keyboard
	Rotating a Sprite
	Creating an Animation
	Working with Sound and Music
	Planning the Astrocrash Game
	Creating Asteroids
	Rotating the Ship
	Moving the Ship
	Firing Missiles
	Controlling the Missile Fire Rate
	Handling Collisions
	Adding Explosions
	Adding Levels, Scorekeeping, and Theme Music
	Summary
	Challenges
Appendix A: LiveWires Reference
	games Module functions
	games Module Constants
	color Module Constants
Index
	Index_A
	Index_B
	Index_C
	Index_D
	Index_E
	Index_F
	Index_G
	Index_H
	Index_I
	Index_K
	Index_L
	Index_M
	Index_N
	Index_O
	Index_P
	Index_Q
	Index_R
	Index_S
	Index_T
	Index_U
	Index_V
	Index_W
	Index_X
	Index_Y
	Index_Z
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Sidebars
CD Content