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Colt Steele

Don't waste your time with 60+ hour behemoth courses that you never finish.   Instead, try this quick and effective pathway to Python that was designed with your sanity in mind.   This course is the perfect first step into the world of data science, web dev, machine learning, or any other discipline that requires Python knowledge.

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Don't waste your time with 60+ hour behemoth courses that you never finish.   Instead, try this quick and effective pathway to Python that was designed with your sanity in mind.   This course is the perfect first step into the world of data science, web dev, machine learning, or any other discipline that requires Python knowledge.

As an-person coding bootcamp instructor, I created this course to keep you engaged the entire way through.  It's full of exercises, quizzes, challenges, and projects.  The slides, diagrams, and cheatsheets were painstakingly designed to help you visualize the tricky concepts.  There are no 20-minute monster videos in this course; the average video is only 4 minutes long.  Everything about this course has been designed to make it actually completable.

This course covers all the Python essentials you need: everything from variables to data structures to object oriented programming and modules. You’ll fill up your Python toolbox so you can go on and tackle libraries like pandas, flask, scikitlearn, django, and more.

What this course is not:  This course is not a complete guide to every single possible feature in the Python language.  It focuses on the 80% that is absolutely critical and worth your time, but there are other (much longer) courses that are more akin to Python textbooks that take the time to cover every feature.  In fact, I created one of those courses, and it happens to be 40 hours long.  

As someone who has both created and purchased massive Udemy mega bootcamp courses, I know they are still the standard format on the platform, but maybe it’s time for something a bit more human and engaging. I thought it was worth a try at least.

Here's a detailed breakdown of what we cover:

  • Painless installation for all platforms and users

  • Working with numbers

  • Python variables

  • Strings and string methods

  • Booleans

  • Conditional Logic

  • Boolean Logic

  • Loops

  • Functions

  • Scope

  • Lists

  • Dictionaries

  • Sets

  • Tuples

  • *args and kwargs

  • Working with errors

  • Custom modules

  • 3rd party modules

  • PIP

  • Object Oriented Programming

  • Classes

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Master modern python fundamentals as quickly as possible
  • Learn the python you need to move on to data science or web development
  • Work with 3rd party python libraries and modules
  • Complete dozens of exercises, quizzes, and projects
  • You'll learn to code with python while staying sane!

Syllabus

Welcome & Introduction
Welcome To The Course!
Join The Community!
What This Course IS NOT
Read more
Why You Should Learn Python
What We Can Do With Python
Download All Slides Here!
Installation & Setup
Python Versions: They Actually Matter!
2 Ways of Running Python
Installation For Mac Users
Installation For Windows Users
The "No-Installation" Option: REPL.it
Python Numbers
Intro to Data Types
Integers and Floats
★ Numbers Basics Quiz
OPTIONAL: Numeric Notations
Basic Operators
★ Basic Operators Quiz
Lesser Known Operators
★ Other Operators Quiz
Python Comments
Variables Basics
Introducing Variables
★ Variables Quiz
Variable Naming
★ Variable Naming Quiz
Assignment Operators
★ Assignment Operators Quiz
Numbers & Variables In The Wild
The Print() Function
★ Magic Trick Exercise
Strings Basics
Introducing Strings
★ Strings Basics Quiz
String Variables
String Operators
★ String Variables Quiz
String Indexing
★ String Indexing Quiz
The Special Value None
A Little More On Strings
String Slices
★ String Slice Quiz
Revisiting Print()
Escape Characters
★ Escape Character Quiz
Triple Quoted Strings
Strings In The Wild
★ Nico Hülkenberg Exercise
Strings & Built-Ins
Introducing Functions!
The Len Function
★ Len Quiz
The Input Function
Type Casting
★ Types Quiz
★ Age Calculator Exercise
F Strings
★ F-Strings Quiz
F-Strings and Type Casting In The Wild
★ Shopping Cart Exercise
The World Of Methods
Introducing Methods: Upper and Lower
★ Quick String Methods Quiz
Navigating The Docs
Help() & ipython '?'
Reading Function Signatures + Strip Methods
★ Yet Another String Quiz!
Replace
Other String Methods
Method Chaining
★ Even More String Methods Quiz
String Methods In The Wild
★ Press Release Exercise
Booleans
Introducing Booleans
★ Booleans Quiz
Comparison Operators
Equality Operators
★ Comparison Quiz
Comparing Across Types
Truthiness & Falseyness
★ Truthy/Falsey Quiz
The "in" Operator
OPTIONAL: Comparing Strings
Booleans In The Wild
Conditionals Basics
Introducing Conditionals
The If Keyword
★ If Quiz
The Elif Keyword
★ Elif Quiz
The Else Keyword
★ Else Quiz
★ Name Length Codealong
Generating Random Numbers With Randint()
★ Tweet Checker Exercise
A Little More On Conditionals

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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 One Week Python with these activities:
Review Basic Python Syntax
Reviewing basic Python syntax will help you grasp the fundamentals covered in the course more quickly.
Browse courses on Python Syntax
Show steps
  • Read through a Python syntax cheat sheet.
  • Complete basic coding exercises on variables, data types, and operators.
  • Write simple programs using conditional statements and loops.
Read 'Python Crash Course'
Reading 'Python Crash Course' will provide a more in-depth understanding of the Python fundamentals covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Read the first few chapters covering basic Python syntax and data structures.
  • Work through the exercises and projects in the book.
Practice Coding Challenges on HackerRank
Practicing coding challenges will reinforce your understanding of Python syntax and problem-solving skills.
Show steps
  • Sign up for a HackerRank account.
  • Complete Python challenges focusing on data types, loops, and conditional statements.
  • Review solutions and learn from other users' code.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Python Cheat Sheet
Creating a cheat sheet will help you consolidate your knowledge of Python syntax and key concepts.
Show steps
  • Review the course materials and identify key concepts and syntax.
  • Organize the information into a concise and easy-to-read format.
  • Include examples and explanations for each concept.
Build a Simple Calculator
Building a calculator will allow you to apply your Python skills to a practical project.
Show steps
  • Design the calculator's user interface.
  • Implement the calculator's functionality using Python.
  • Test the calculator and fix any bugs.
Follow a Web Scraping Tutorial
Following a web scraping tutorial will expose you to a real-world application of Python and introduce you to relevant libraries.
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on web scraping using Beautiful Soup or Scrapy.
  • Follow the tutorial and scrape data from a website.
  • Analyze the scraped data and draw insights.
Contribute to a Python Project on GitHub
Contributing to an open-source project will give you valuable experience working with real-world code and collaborating with other developers.
Show steps
  • Find a Python project on GitHub that interests you.
  • Read the project's documentation and contribution guidelines.
  • Identify a bug or feature to work on.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete One Week Python will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Data Analyst
A data analyst uses programming languages like Python to extract insights from data. This course helps build a foundation in Python, covering essential topics such as data structures, variables, and modules. These are tools data analysts regularly use to manipulate, analyze, and visualize data. The course's focus on a quick, but comprehensive, introduction to Python allows one to quickly apply the language's fundamentals to practical data analysis tasks, making it particularly helpful for aspiring data analysts.
Web Developer
Web developers use a variety of programming languages, and Python is a popular choice for building server-side logic and implementing web applications. This course introduces Python fundamentals, including object oriented programming concepts and working with 3rd party modules and libraries. This knowledge is crucial for any web developer looking to gain backend control. The course's emphasis on practical exercises and projects provides valuable hands-on experience, which is especially useful for newcomers to web development.
Software Developer
A software developer designs, develops, and implements software solutions, and Python is a very popular language in the field. This course helps to build a strong foundation in programming with Python. The course introduces core concepts like variables, data structures, and object-oriented programming which are all essential for software developers. The course is designed to be engaging and completable, making it a great first step for anyone wanting to transition to a career as a software developer.
Data Scientist
Data scientists use a combination of statistical analysis, programming, and domain expertise to extract knowledge from data. Python is a critical tool for data scientists, and this course, which provides a strong foundation in Python fundamentals such as data structures and modules, may be a useful first step for those looking to enter the field. Additionally, the course is designed to be easily completable, which helps students quickly pick up the language and begin using it in their work.
Backend Engineer
Backend engineers specialize in server-side logic and database management, with Python being a popular language in the field. This course introduces the fundamentals of Python, including working with modules and object-oriented programming. These capabilities are critical to a backend engineer's daily tasks. The course’s focus on practical exercises and projects to help build a solid foundation is especially helpful for those looking to pivot into backend engineering. This course can help build a foundation for backend technologies.
Machine Learning Engineer
Machine learning engineers use Python to develop and implement algorithms that allow computers to learn from data. This course offers a quick and effective pathway to Python, covering all the essentials, including data structures and object oriented programming. These are foundational skills for those looking to work with machine learning libraries like scikit-learn. This course may be a useful first step for those curious about machine learning and a career in the field.
Automation Engineer
Automation engineers design implement and maintain automated solutions, often requiring programming knowledge. This course provides Python fundamentals, including modules and object oriented programming, which can help a professional write scripts and create automation procedures. The course is designed to be practical, incorporating exercises, quizzes, and projects that build applicable skills. This would be a good primer for automation engineers who wish to add to their toolbelt.
Research Scientist
Research scientists may use Python for data analysis, simulations, or model building. This course introduces Python essentials such as variables, data structures, and modules. These capabilities can be vital when conducting research, especially for those who work with quantitative data. This may be a useful course to build a useful foundation for research-related tasks in a wide variety of scientific fields.
Quantitative Analyst
Quantitative analysts use mathematical and statistical methods to solve problems in finance. Python is a standard tool for quantitative analysis, and this course provides a quick and effective pathway to Python fundamentals. This course helps to build a foundation in programming which may be helpful in building more complex models and performing data analysis. While this course is a short introduction, it may help provide a necessary tool for quantitative analysis.
Bioinformatician
Bioinformaticians analyze biological data using computational tools, often requiring proficiency in Python. This course helps build Python fundamentals such as working with modules, object oriented programming, and data structures, all of which may be useful in this domain. The course’s focus on practical application may help the bioinformatician quickly learn how to use these tools in the lab or office. This course may be a good introduction to programming in the field.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps engineers work to streamline the software development lifecycle, often using Python for automation and configuration management. This course introduces foundational Python concepts such as data structures, modules, and object oriented programming. This course may be helpful for a DevOps engineer who needs to learn the fundamentals of Python for scripting and automation.
Robotics Engineer
Robotics engineers design, build, and test robots. Python is often used for controlling robots and analyzing data they collect. This course introduces Python essentials like variables, data structures, and modules. A strong understanding of these core competencies may be useful for a robotics engineer who wants to use Python in their projects. This course may help provide a useful set of tools.
Game Developer
Game developers create video games, and Python can be used for scripting, tools development, and prototyping. This course introduces Python concepts like variables, data structures and modules, which build a foundation that game developers may find useful to use alongside other game dev tools. This course may be helpful for any game developer looking to add Python to their toolbelt.
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts use data to offer insights on investments or financial performance. While their work is more focused on financial modeling and analysis, Python can be helpful in data analysis. This course helps build a foundation in Python with an introduction to data structures, which may be a useful skill to develop. A financial analyst may find this course helpful in expanding their toolset.
Database Administrator
Database administrators manage the performance and security of databases. Although their job is often specialized for database management, Python can be helpful in automating tasks and scripting database operations. This course introduces Python fundamentals, including working with modules, which can help a database administrator become more efficient. A database administrator who wants to streamline operations may find this course helpful.

Reading list

We've selected one 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 One Week Python.
Provides a solid foundation in Python programming. It covers the essentials of Python syntax, data structures, and object-oriented programming. It is particularly useful for beginners and includes hands-on projects to reinforce learning. This book adds breadth to the course by providing more examples and projects.

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