Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python, second edition: With Application to Understanding Data

Bought this for the MIT Computer Science course 6.00.1x. It is a fast paced but very readable first year text for Computer Science. It uses Python 2.X as its language and you will come up to speed in Python quickly, and then spend the bulk of the book learning algorithms and computational techniques.I am very pleased with the book. It is terse and fast. If you require a more leisurely pace, John Zelle's Python Programming, an Introduction to Computer Science takes 425 pages to cover what this book covers in 110 pages, and then has a short chapter just touching on what this book covers more deeply in the remaining 200 pages. Zelle's book is also a popular first year CS text, but obviously for a different audience. Obviously, you will learn more with this book if you can take the pace. I bought Zelle's book also and have used it for extra exercises and the occasional alternative explanation.I also am using Problem Solving with Algorithms and Data Structures by Miller and Ranum to supplement/flesh out my algorithms knowledge during breaks in the class. This also seems to be a good book, and uses Python as its language for examples.Buy Guttag for sure, or Zelle if you feel the need for a slower pace, and Miller and Ranum to flesh out your algorithms.Dave

This book is very concise (in less than 300 pages), yet very clear. What's truly amazing about this text is that it covers a lot of topics from Python basics to data structures, algorithms, testing & debugging, statistics, simulation, visualization and even machine learning! If this is your first course in CS, you actually get a chance to taste the flavors of most of higher-level courses you would take later in college. And again in less than 300 pages.Personally, I programmed in Java and C++. I wanted to know Python since it is a simple language (compared to C++) and there are many useful packages to use too. I don't want a 1000-page huge book that explains every traits of this language.I simply don't have the time nor do I need it, since I know what programming is about. I'm looking for a light book which explains language basics (like syntax) and its application. This book is such a perfect fit! You learned the basics and immediately put them to use.I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to know Python and apply it quickly, whether you are a beginner or already a programmer like myself.

I used this textbook along with the MIT online course 6.01 on edX.com. Overall I thought it was well written and structured, my biggest qualm was that explanations were not always given for code. Considering how small the text is, I think they could have given readers better explanations in certain places without making the book too long.Pros:-Covers a little material on many subjects and provides a thorough introduction to computer science.Cons:-Like other reviewers have said, much of the textbook is word for word from the online lectures.-Does not fully explain every piece of code. When explanations are given, they are not comprehensive and the reader is expected to look at other sources.-Not really a standalone introduction, without the online course one will not fully grasp the concepts.

It ages wellThere are some really eloquent things you can do in Python, since dict and json are so interrelated.This work really starts of in a relevant way, with techniques that are easy to remember and some advanced chapters that even seasoned data scientists could use.What I find most refreshing is that the topics are not copy-pasta to include any beginner topics or waste any time on explaining high-school level CS curricula. The topics are more about performant ways to deal with data and common challenges that arise when working with other SDK's and external data, such as when you have a work project and need to interact with other language-agnostic processes with industry-standard techniques and responses.I personally use Flask, Bottle, and as much as the language-provided packages as possible when creating new software.

Without a doubt, this book is a masterpiece on computation and computer science.I bought this book for the Edx lesson Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python.After finished 2 chapters, it's quite obvious that Prof. Guttag is an expert in his fields.I like the clear and light language of this book.As the author said, this book will be many students only formal exposure to computer science.I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to become more confident in programming and more skillful in problem-solving using computers.I encourage you to enroll in the Edx lesson I mentioned.The second edition has been greatly expanded compared to the first edition.It contain two-semester-long material now.I'm a Chinese and I choose the slowest shipping option.The shipping process took 45 days.I think that I'll never buy any book from Amazon.com.I think Amazon Japan will be a better choice. companion

This book is written as an introduction to Computer Science and Programming aiming at preparing and educating potential Computer Scientists.The writing style, the vocabulary used, the concise and to-the-point contents, and the vast topics that are covered in this introductory book, all are to serve the purpose of teaching computational and algorithmic thinking to a nerd-to-be.This book is not meant to teach you only programming, or only Python. It uses Python just as a tool to teach the science of computing at an introductory level.Reading the book along with the associated online course at edx.org will help you learn the basics of computer science in a very efficient way.