Python Programming for Raspberry Pi, Sams Teach Yourself in 24 Hourss

by Richard Blum, Christine Bresnahan

Overview

In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Python Programming for Raspberry Pi in 24 Hours teaches you Python programmingon Raspberry Pi, so you can start creating awesome projects for homeautomation, home theater, gaming, and more. Using this book’s straightforward,step-by-step approach, you’ll move from the absolute basics all theway through network and web connections, multimedia, and even connectingwith electronic circuits for sensing and robotics. Every lesson and casestudy application builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you arock-solid foundation for real-world success!

 

Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Raspberry Pi Python programming tasks.

Quizzes at the end of each chapter help you test your knowledge.

By the Way notes present interesting information related to the discussion.

Did You Know? tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks.

Watch Out! cautions alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them.

• Get your Raspberry Pi and choose the right low-cost peripherals
• Set up Raspian Linux and the Python programming environment
• Learn Python basics, including arithmetic and structured commands
• Master Python 3 lists, tuples, dictionaries, sets, strings, files, and modules
• Reuse the same Python code in multiple locations with functions
• Manipulate string data efficiently with regular expressions
• Practice simple object-oriented programming techniques
• Use exception handling to make your code more reliable
• Program modern graphical user interfaces with Raspberry Pi and OpenGL
• Create Raspberry Pi games with the PyGame library
• Learn network, web, and database techniques you can also use in business software
• Write Python scripts that send email
• Interact with other devices through Raspberry Pi’s GPIO interface
• Walk through example Raspberry Pi projects that inspire you to do even more

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780133490176
Publisher:	Pearson Education
Publication date:	10/24/2013
Series:	Sams Teach Yourself
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	600
File size:	37 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Richard Blum has worked in the IT industry for over 25 years as a network and systems administrator, managing Microsoft, Unix, Linux, and Novell servers for a network with more than 3,500 users. He has developed and teaches programming and Linux courses via the Internet to colleges and universities worldwide. Rich has a master’s degree in management information systems from Purdue University and is the author of several Linux books, including Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible (coauthored with Christine Bresnahan, 2011, Wiley), Linux for Dummies , 9th edition (2009, Wiley), and Professional Linux Programming (coauthored with Jon Masters, 2007, Wiley). When he’s not busy being a computer nerd, Rich enjoys spending time with his wife, Barbara, and two daughters, Katie Jane and Jessica.

 

Christine Bresnahan started working in the IT industry more than 25 years ago as a system administrator. Christine is currently an adjunct professor at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, Indiana, teaching Python programming, Linux system administration, and Linux security classes. Christine produces Unix/Linux educational material and is the author of Linux Bible , 8th edition (coauthored with Christopher Negus, 2012, Wiley) and Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible (coauthored with Richard Blum, 2011, Wiley).She has been an enthusiastic owner of a Raspberry Pi since 2012.

Table of Contents

Introduction    1

Programming with Python    1

Who Should Read This Book?    2

Conventions Used in This Book    3

Part I: The Raspberry Pi Programming Environment

HOUR 1: Setting Up the Raspberry Pi    7

What Is a Raspberry Pi?    7

Acquiring a Raspberry Pi    9

What Raspberry Pi Peripherals Are Necessary?    11

Nice Additional Peripherals    17

Deciding How to Purchase Peripherals    19

Getting Your Raspberry Pi Working    19

Troubleshooting Your Raspberry Pi    24

Summary    25

Q&A    25

Workshop    26

HOUR 2: Understanding the Raspbian Linux Distribution    27

Learning About Linux    27

Interacting with the Raspbian Command Line    28

Interacting with the Raspbian GUI    33

Summary    43

Q&A    43

Workshop    44

HOUR 3: Setting Up a Programming Environment    45

Exploring Python    45

Checking Your Python Environment    46

Installing Python and Tools    48

Learning About the Python Interpreter    50

Learning About the Python Interactive Shell    51

Learning About the Python Development Environment Shell    54

Creating Python Scripts    59

Knowing Which Tool to Use and When    65

Summary    66

Q&A    66

Workshop    67

Part II: Python Fundamentals

HOUR 4: Understanding Python Basics    71

Producing Python Script Output    71

Formatting Scripts for Readability    78

Understanding Python Variables    81

Assigning Value to Python Variables    82

Learning About Python Data Types    86

Allowing Python Script Input    88

Summary    94

Q&A    95

Workshop    95

HOUR 5: Using Arithmetic in Your Programs    97

Working with Math Operators    97

Calculating with Fractions    103

Using Complex Number Math    105

Getting Fancy with the math Module    106

Using the NumPy Math Libraries    110

Summary    112

Q&A    113

Workshop    113

HOUR 6: Controlling Your Program    115

Working with the if Statement    115

Grouping Multiple Statements    117

Adding Other Options with the else Statement    118

Adding More Options Using the elif Statement    120

Comparing Values in Python    121

Checking Complex Conditions    126

Negating a Condition Check    127

Summary    128

Q&A    129

Workshop    129

HOUR 7: Learning About Loops    131

Performing Repetitive Tasks    131

Using the for Loop for Iteration    132

Using the while Loop for Iteration    143

Creating Nested Loops    149

Summary    150

Q&A    150

Workshop    151

Part III: Advanced Python

HOUR 8: Using Lists and Tuples    155

Introducing Tuples    155

Introducing Lists    160

Using Multidimensional Lists to Store Data    167

Working with Lists and Tuples in Your Scripts    168

Creating Lists by Using List Comprehensions    170

Working with Ranges    170

Summary    172

Q&A    172

Workshop    172

HOUR 9: Dictionaries and Sets    175

Understanding Python Dictionary Terms    175

Exploring Dictionary Basics    176

Programming with Dictionaries    182

Understanding Python Sets    187

Exploring Set Basics    187

Obtaining Information from a Set    189

Modifying a Set    192

Programming with Sets    193

Summary    197

Q&A    197

Workshop    197

HOUR 10: Working with Strings    199

The Basics of Using Strings    199

Using Functions to Manipulate Strings    202

Formatting Strings for Output    209

Summary    215

Q&A    215

Workshop    215

HOUR 11: Using Files    217

Understanding Linux File Structures    217

Opening a File    221

Reading a File    224

Closing a File    230

Writing to a File    231

Summary    237

Q&A    237

Workshop    238

HOUR 12: Creating Functions    239

Utilizing Python Functions in Your Programs    239

Returning a Value    243

Passing Values to Functions    244

Handling Variables in a Function    250

Using Lists with Functions    253

Using Recursion with Functions    254

Summary    255

Q&A    256

Workshop    256

HOUR 13: Working with Modules    257

Introducing Module Concepts    257

Exploring Standard Modules    259

Learning About Python Modules    261

Creating Custom Modules    265

Summary    275

Q&A    275

Workshop    276

HOUR 14: Exploring the World of Object-Oriented Programming    277

Understanding the Basics of Object-Oriented Programming    277

Defining Class Methods    280

Sharing Your Code with Class Modules    287

Summary    290

Q&A    290

Workshop    290

HOUR 15: Employing Inheritance    293

Learning About the Class Problem    293

Understanding Subclasses and Inheritance    294

Using Inheritance in Python    296

Using Inheritance in Python Scripts    302

Summary    314

Q&A    314

Workshop    315

HOUR 16: Regular Expressions    317

What Are Regular Expressions?    317

Working with Regular Expressions in Python    319

Defining Basic Patterns    321

Using Advanced Regular Expressions Features    330

Working with Regular Expressions in Your Python Scripts    332

Summary    334

Q&A    335

Workshop    335

HOUR 17: Exception Handling    337

Understanding Exceptions    337

Handling Exceptions    342

Handling Multiple Exceptions    344

Summary    357

Q&A    357

Workshop    357

Part IV: Graphical Programming

HOUR 18: GUI Programming    361

Programming for a GUI Environment    361

Examining Python GUI Packages    363

Using the tkinter Package    364

Exploring the tkinter Widgets    372

Summary    384

Q&A    384

Workshop    384

HOUR 19: Game Programming    387

Understanding Game Programming    387

Learning About Game Frameworks and Libraries    388

Setting Up the PyGame Library    389

Using PyGame    394

Learning More About PyGame    403

Dealing with PyGame Action    408

Summary    418

Q&A    418

Workshop    418

Part V: Business Programming

HOUR 20: Using the Network    423

Finding the Python Network Modules    423

Working with Email Servers    424

Working with Web Servers    432

Linking Programs Using Socket Programming    438

Summary    445

Q&A    445

Workshop    446

HOUR 21: Using Databases in Your Programming    447

Working with the MySQL Database    447

Using the PostgreSQL Database    458

Summary    466

Q&A    466

Workshop    467

HOUR 22: Web Programming    469

Running a Web Server on the Pi    469

Programming with the Common

Gateway Interface    473

Expanding Your Python Webpages    475

Processing Forms    482

Summary    488

Q&A    488

Workshop    488

Part VI: Raspberry Pi Python Projects1

HOUR 23: Creating Basic Pi/Python Projects    493

Thinking About Basic Pi/Python Projects    493

Displaying HD Images via Python    493

Playing Music    514

Creating a Special Presentation    521

Summary    526

Q&A    526

Workshop    526

HOUR 24: Working with Advanced Pi/Python Projects    529

Exploring the GPIO Interface    529

Using the RPi.GPIO Module    535

Controlling GPIO Output    536

Detecting GPIO Input    542

Summary    548

Q&A    549

Workshop    549

Part VII: Appendix

APPENDIX A: Loading the Raspbian Operating System onto an SD Card    553

Windows: Loading Raspbian onto an SD Card    553

Linux: Loading Raspbian onto an SD Card    556

Mac: Loading Raspbian onto an SD Card    558

Index    561