Learn only the essential aspects of Python without cluttering up your mind with features you may never use. This compact book is not a "best way to write code" type of book; rather, the author goes over his most-used functions, which are all you need to know as a beginner and some way beyond. Lean Python takes 58 Python methods and functions and whittles them down to 15: as author Paul Gerrard says, "I haven't found a need for the rest." What You'll Learn Discover lean Python and how to learn just enough to build useful tools Use Python objects, program structure, I/O, modules and more Handle errors and exceptions Test your code Access the Web; do searching; and persist data Who This Book Is For This book is aimed at three categories of reader: The experienced programmer – if you already know a programming language, this book gives you a shortcut to understanding the Python language and some of its design philosophy. You work in IT and need a programming primer – you might be a tester who needs to have more informed technical discussions with programmers. Working through the examples will help you to appreciate the challenge of good programming. First-timer – you want a first book on programming that you can assimilate quickly to help you decide whether programming is for you. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Getting Started Chapter 2: Python Objects Chapter 3: Program Structure Chapter 4: Input and Output Chapter 5: Using Modules Chapter 6: Object Orientation1 Chapter 7: Exception and Error Handling Chapter 8: Testing Your Code Chapter 9: Accessing the Web1 Chapter 10: Searching Chapter 11: Databases1 Chapter 12: What Next? Appendix: Further Information build useful tools Use Python objects, program structure, I/O, modules and more Handle errors and exceptions Test your code Access the Web; do searching; and persist data Who This Book Is For This book is aimed at three categories of reader: The experienced programmer – if you already know a programming language, this book gives you a shortcut to understanding the Python language and some of its design philosophy. You work in IT and need a programming primer – you might be a tester who needs to have more informed technical discussions with programmers. Working through the examples will help you to appreciate the challenge of good programming. First-timer – you want a first book on programming that you can assimilate quickly to help you decide whether programming is for you. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Getting Started Chapter 2: Python Objects Chapter 3: Program Structure Chapter 4: Input and Output Chapter 5: Using Modules Chapter 6: Object Orientation1 Chapter 7: Exception and Error Handling Chapter 8: Testing Your Code Chapter 9: Accessing the Web1 Chapter 10: Searching Chapter 11: Databases1 Chapter 12: What Next? Appendix: Further Information