Write Pythonic Code Like a Seasoned Developer Course
Course Summary
One of the special concepts in Python is the idea of writing idiomatic code that is most aligned with the language features and ideals. In Python, we call this idiomatic code Pythonic. While this idea is easy to understand, it turns out to be fairly hard to make concrete.
Topics covered include the expansive use of dictionaries, hacking Python's memory usage via slots, using generators, comprehensions, and generator expressions, creating subsets of collections via slices (all the way to the database) and many more. Several of these are Python 3 features so you'll have even more reason to adopt Python 3 for your next project.
What students are saying
Quite a few times I found myself cursing that it had taken me weeks to learn what Michael was demonstrating in meer minutes.
The beauty of the course however lies in the fact that you're not spoon fed everything. You're expected to have prior knowledge of concepts such as Python Classes, data structures and so on.
Source code and course GitHub repository
github.com/mikeckennedy/write-pythonic-code-demosWhat is Pythonic code and why does it matter?
One of the special concepts in Python is the idea of writing idiomatic code that is most aligned with the language features and ideals. In Python, we call this idiomatic code Pythonic. When you write Pythonic code, you are leveraging over 25 years of experience of many thousands of developers. You are writing code that is expected and tune in the CPython runtime. Most importantly perhaps, you are writing code that is easily read and understood by your fellow and senior Python developers.
If you are building an open source product, it will be easier for other contributors to join in if your code is Pythonic. If you are running a software team, it will be easier to on-board Python developers new to your company.
On the flip side, if you are somewhat new to Python, you may be broadcasting this loud and clear to everyone listening: your teammates, interviewers if you're looking for a new job, audience members if you're giving a public presentation. This is less than ideal.
Finally, many of the over 50 tips covered in this course that are considered "Pythonic" allow you to write more readable code, more maintainable code, and more efficient code. So in some sense, you can think of this course as an effective Python course in its own right.
Who is this course for?
The course is for beginner to intermediate Python developers looking to hone their Python programming skills and become true professionals in the Python space. It is not a "Learn Python from Scratch" course and assumes you are familiar with language constructs such as modules, functions, classes, and more.
If you are looking to learn Python from scratch, please consider my Python Jumpstart by Building 10 Apps course.
Write code like professional Python developers
Even if you are an experienced developer in another language, your skills may not translate directly to Python in an idiomatic way. If you take code or an algorithm from another language, say Java, and convert it to Python and get it running, chances are this code is a little off. People reading your code will know it's "foreign".
This course will inculturate you into the Python community. You will learn to write code that is most natural to Python's language features and capabilities.
What topics will we cover?
This course covers over 50 concrete programming tips to write more Pythonic code. These tips are grouped into the following broad categories.
- Pythonic Foundational Concepts
- Dictionaries
- Generators and Collections
- Methods and Functions
- Modules and Packages
- Classes and Objects
- Loops
- Tuples
- Python for Humans
See the full course table of contents below.
Concepts backed by concise visuals
This course will focus extensively on showing you the concepts organically through live demos editors, executing code, and more. But each topic has one or two concept graphics that freeze the idea to highlight the core concepts.
Here is an example for the section that shows you that dictionaries can be leveraged to add the concept of a switch statement to the Python language.
Follow along with subtitles and transcripts
Each course comes with subtitles and full transcripts. The transcripts are available as a separate searchable page for each lecture. They also are available in course-wide search results to help you find just the right lecture.
Who am I? Why should you take my course?
My name is Michael, nice to meet you. ;) There are a couple of reasons I'm especially qualified to teach you Python.
1. I'm the host of the #1 podcast on Python called Talk Python To Me. Over there, I've interviewed many of the leaders and creators in the Python community. I bring that perspective to all the courses I create.
2. I've been a professional software trainer for over 10 years. I have taught literally thousands of professional developers in hundreds of courses throughout the world.
3. Students have loved my courses. Here are just a few quotes from past students of mine.
"Michael is super knowledgeable, loves his craft, and he conveys it all well. I would highly recommend his training class anytime." - Robert F.
"Michael is simply an outstanding instructor." - Kevin R.
"Michael was an encyclopedia for the deep inner workings of Python. Very impressive." - Neal L.
Free office hours keep you from getting stuck
One of the challenges of self-paced online learning is getting stuck. It can be hard to get the help you need to get unstuck.
That's why at Talk Python Training, we offer live, online office hours. You drop in and join a group of fellow students to chat about your course progress and see solutions via screen sharing.
Just visit your account page to see the upcoming office hour schedule.
Is this course based on Python 3 or Python 2?
This course is based upon Python 3. Python 2 is officially unsupported as of January 1st, 2020 and we believe that it would be ill-advised to teach or learn Python 2. This course is, and has always been, built around Python 3.
The time to act is now
Become the Python developer you have always wanted to be. Join this course right now.