A New Book for New Python Programmers

My algorithms people,

I’ve written a new book to help people get started with Python programming.

It’s called Learn to Code by Solving Problems. It uses coding competition puzzles, just like the Algorithmic Thinking book. It has lots of examples, exercises, Check Your Understanding checkpoints, a few bad jokes…

“What’s in it for me?”

Good question. You already know how to program. Why am I telling you about an intro programming book?

1. Do you have non-programming friends with birthdays? :)
2. Maybe you know C but you don’t know Python. Learn to Code will teach you what you need to know to get started with Python programming.
3. Maybe you’re looking for a way to ease into algorithms before reading Algorithmic Thinking. You’ll get it here. You know that I can’t write a Python book without including some algorithms stuff!
4. The Algorithmic Thinking book has an appendix on big O and efficiency analysis, but maybe you need more. The Learn to Code book has it. Learn all about big O. Use big O to analyze the efficiency of programs and write faster ones!
5. I included a whole chapter on complete search (aka brute force) algorithms. There’s also material on how to choose the most efficient Python data structure for the job, and when to use binary search or sorting to make code more efficient.

“Sounds good. Can I order now? Any discount? Will this book help me design the next killer app and make me rich beyond my wildest dreams?”

Yes, yes, and … no? Learn to Code by Solving Problems is shipping soon, and right now there’s a 25 percent discount if you use the discount code PREORDER.

Written on May 14th, 2021 by Daniel Zingaro