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Jason Olson

Python is an excellent choice, but how do you know if it is a good fit for you and your team? This course will teach you about Python’s philosophy and culture, helping you determine if it is a good fit for you.

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Python is an excellent choice, but how do you know if it is a good fit for you and your team? This course will teach you about Python’s philosophy and culture, helping you determine if it is a good fit for you.

The Python language has proven itself to be an excellent choice for machine learning, creating cloud applications, as well as computer scripting. But how do you know if it is a good fit for you and your team? In this course, Python 3: The Big Picture, you’ll discover what makes Python a popular choice for many of today’s largest organizations. First, you’ll learn about Python’s design philosophy, its history, and the many different technology areas where Python is being used. Next, you'll explore a little bit about the Python programming language itself and what Python code looks like, including what makes it both similar and different to other programming languages being used today. Finally, you'll learn about both the Pros and Cons of Python, from advantages like it having a comprehensive standard library and having access to great 3rd party tools to its downsides like performance. When you're finished with this course, you'll have the skills and knowledge of Python to decide if it would be a valuable addition to you or your company's skill set.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview
Why Python?
What Is Python?
Python Pros and Cons
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Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Develops the Python programming language, which is a popular choice for many of today’s largest organizations
Examines the pros and cons of using Python, giving learners all the information they need to make a sound decision about adopting it
Explores the design philosophy and history of Python, providing learners with a deeper understanding of its approach and evolution
Taught by Jason Olson, a recognized expert in Python development
Requires learners to have some prior programming experience, which may limit accessibility for complete beginners
Does not provide hands-on labs or interactive materials, which may limit practical application

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Python 3: The Big Picture with these activities:
Review Python development environment
Reviewing Python development environments will help you familiarize yourself with the tools and techniques you'll use throughout the course.
Show steps
  • Set up a Python development environment on your local machine.
  • Install any necessary libraries and packages.
  • Test your environment by running a simple Python script.
Complete beginner-friendly Python tutorials
Completing beginner-friendly Python tutorials will provide a solid foundation in the Python programming language, which will help you throughout the course.
Browse courses on Python
Show steps
  • Find a reputable online tutorial or course for beginners.
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step, completing all exercises and assignments.
  • Take notes and ask questions as needed.
Review the book 'Python Crash Course'
Reviewing 'Python Crash Course' will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the Python programming language.
Show steps
  • Read the book.
  • Take notes and highlight important sections.
  • Complete the exercises and projects in the book.
Five other activities
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Show all eight activities
Participate in a Python study group
Participating in a Python study group will provide you with a supportive environment to learn and collaborate with other students.
Browse courses on Python
Show steps
  • Find or create a Python study group.
  • Meet regularly with your study group to discuss course material, complete assignments, and work on projects.
  • Share your knowledge and expertise with other group members.
Solve Python coding challenges
Solving Python coding challenges will help you develop your problem-solving skills and reinforce your understanding of Python syntax and concepts.
Browse courses on Python
Show steps
  • Find a website or platform that offers Python coding challenges.
  • Select a challenge that is appropriate for your skill level.
  • Attempt to solve the challenge on your own.
  • If you get stuck, refer to the documentation or seek help from online forums.
Write a Python script to automate a task
Writing a Python script to automate a task will help you apply your Python skills to a practical problem and gain experience in working with real-world data.
Browse courses on Python
Show steps
  • Identify a task that you can automate.
  • Design and code a Python script to automate the task.
  • Test and debug your script.
  • Document your script and share it with others.
Create a Python project
Creating a Python project will allow you to apply your skills and knowledge to a practical problem, which will deepen your understanding of the course material.
Browse courses on Python
Show steps
  • Identify a problem or need that you can solve with Python.
  • Design and plan your project.
  • Implement your project using Python.
  • Test and debug your project.
  • Document your project and share it with others.
Contribute to an open-source Python project
Contributing to an open-source Python project will allow you to collaborate with other developers, learn from their code, and contribute to the Python community.
Browse courses on Python
Show steps
  • Find an open-source Python project that interests you.
  • Read the project's documentation and contribution guidelines.
  • Identify an area where you can contribute.
  • Fork the project and make your changes.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Python 3: The Big Picture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Machine Learning Engineer
Machine Learning Engineers develop and deploy machine learning models to automate tasks and extract value from data. Python is one of the most popular languages for Machine Learning due to its large collection of libraries and frameworks, such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn. By learning Python in this course, Machine Learning Engineers will be able to more easily apply their knowledge to common libraries and frameworks used by the industry.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists use Python to gather and analyze large volumes of data to identify trends, solve problems, and make predictions. This course will help current and aspiring Data Scientists master essential Python programming techniques, deepen their knowledge of Python's philosophy and culture, and build a foundation that can be applied to a variety of Data Science projects and scenarios.
Data Engineer
Data Engineers design, build, and maintain data pipelines and infrastructure. Python is a popular language for data engineering due to its flexibility and ability to handle large volumes of data. This course will help current and aspiring Data Engineers become more familiar with Python's syntax and capabilities, which will be a valuable skill for data engineering tasks such as data wrangling and data analysis.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts help wrangle, analyze, and interpret data to draw actionable conclusions. A large component of a Data Analyst role involves using Python to perform data manipulation tasks. This course, Python 3: The Big Picture, can help you become comfortable with a variety of Python programming syntaxes and how to interpret the results, which is highly valued by employers hiring Data Analysts.
Web Developer
Web Developers design and develop websites and web applications. Python is a popular choice for web development due to its versatility and large ecosystem of frameworks and libraries. This course can help current and aspiring Web Developers become more familiar with Python and its application to web development.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineers bridge the gap between development and operations teams. Python is a popular choice for DevOps due to its versatility and ability to automate tasks. This course will help current and aspiring DevOps Engineers become more familiar with Python and its application to DevOps, which will be valuable for tasks such as automating deployments and managing infrastructure.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, test, and deploy software applications. Python is widely used for web development, data analysis, and machine learning applications. By understanding Python programming, Software Engineers can make better use of the language's large collection of libraries and tools to develop robust and scalable software solutions.
Cloud Architect
Cloud Architects design, build, and manage cloud computing solutions. Python is a popular choice for cloud development due to its versatility and support for a variety of cloud platforms. This course will help current and aspiring Cloud Architects become more familiar with Python and its application to cloud development.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts help businesses understand their needs and develop solutions to improve their operations. Python is a popular choice for business analysis due to its ability to handle data analysis and visualization tasks. This course will help current and aspiring Business Analysts become more familiar with Python and its application to business analysis, which will be valuable for tasks such as data analysis and requirement gathering.
Product Manager
Product Managers plan, develop, and launch new products and features. Python is a popular choice for product management due to its ability to handle data analysis and visualization tasks. This course will help current and aspiring Product Managers become more familiar with Python and its application to product management, which will be valuable for tasks such as market research and product planning.
Project Manager
Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. Python is a popular choice for project management due to its ability to automate tasks and track progress. This course will help current and aspiring Project Managers become more familiar with Python and its application to project management, which will be valuable for tasks such as scheduling and resource allocation.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create and maintain technical documentation. Python is a popular choice for technical writing due to its ability to generate clear and concise documentation. This course will help current and aspiring Technical Writers become more familiar with Python and its application to technical writing, which will be valuable for tasks such as writing user guides and training materials.
Quality Assurance Analyst
Quality Assurance Analysts test and evaluate software applications to ensure they meet quality standards. Python is a popular choice for quality assurance due to its ability to automate testing tasks. This course may help current and aspiring Quality Assurance Analysts become more familiar with Python and its application to quality assurance, which may be valuable for tasks such as writing test cases and analyzing test results.
IT Support Specialist
IT Support Specialists provide technical support to users. Python is a popular choice for IT support due to its versatility and ability to automate tasks. This course will help current and aspiring IT Support Specialists become more familiar with Python and its application to IT support, which will be valuable for tasks such as troubleshooting problems and resolving incidents.
Database Administrator
Database Administrators manage and maintain databases. Python is a popular choice for database administration due to its ability to automate tasks and manage data. This course may help current and aspiring Database Administrators become more familiar with Python and its application to database administration, which may be valuable for tasks such as creating and managing databases and optimizing performance.

Reading list

We've selected 25 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Python 3: The Big Picture.
Focuses on using Python for data analysis tasks, covering topics such as data wrangling, exploratory data analysis, and statistical modeling.
Comprehensive reference for Python programmers of all levels. It covers all aspects of Python, from the basics to the most advanced features.
Great reference for Python programmers of all levels. It contains a collection of recipes for solving common programming problems.
Comprehensive and detailed guide to Python, covering a wide range of topics from beginner to advanced.
Great way to learn Python if you're interested in using it for automation tasks. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic programming concepts to more advanced topics like web scraping and data analysis.
Provides a comprehensive guide to deep learning with Python, covering topics such as convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, and generative models.
Comprehensive guide to Python programming. It covers all aspects of Python, from the basics to the most advanced features.
Great way to learn about using Python for data analysis. It covers topics such as data cleaning, data manipulation, and data visualization.
Introduces the core concepts of natural language processing (NLP) and provides practical guidance on how to use Python for NLP tasks such as text classification, sentiment analysis, and named entity recognition.
Teaches how to use Python to automate everyday tasks and create useful scripts.
Introduces test-driven development (TDD) concepts and techniques using Python, promoting writing clean and reliable code.
Explores design patterns and their implementation in Python, providing insights into how to write maintainable and reusable code.
Great starting point for learning Python. It provides a hands-on, project-based introduction to programming that will help you learn the basics of Python quickly and easily.
Great way to learn about using Python for machine learning. It covers topics such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and natural language processing.
Great reference for Python programmers. It provides examples of how to use the Python standard library to solve common programming problems.
Offers a beginner-friendly introduction to Python for data science, covering topics such as data manipulation, visualization, and machine learning.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to Python and computer science fundamentals.
Great way to learn about the basics of Python if you're a complete beginner. It covers the foundations of programming using Python.

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