Python crash course
a hands-on, project-based introduction to programming
by Eric Matthes · first published 2015
62% recommend38% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Beginner-friendly Python intro that teaches the basics, then applies them in three projects (a game, data visualisation, a Django site). Readers say it feels like in-person teaching and made programming click.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…Handbook [4] Linux Kernel Development 3rd Edition To get a nice general overview and get up and going quickly: [5] How Linux works: What every superuser should know [6] The Linux Command Line [7] Python Crash Course [8] Automate the boring stuff with Python. This is a great book to help you think about how to automate most of the repetitive things you will end up doing on a regular basis. [0] https://www.amazon.com/RHCSA-RHCE-Red-Enterprise-Linux/dp/14...…
on “Ask HN: Best Resources to Learn to Manage Linux Boxes via SSH” ↗Python Crash Course [1] This book is especially good for beginners in python, it feels as if the author is teaching you in person. All the exercises in every chapter builds to a mini project by the end of that chapter.…
on “Ask HN: What are some books where the reader learns by building projects?” ↗_Python Crash Course_ This book is aimed squarely at beginners, but it's excellent for that purpose.
on “Ask HN: What are some books where the reader learns by building projects?” ↗I personally found "Python Crash Course" by Eric Matthes to be a much better and effective book.
on “Ask HN: Starting a career as a programmer in my mid-40s” ↗I recently finished the book that teaches programming by developing games using DragonRubyGameToolkit. Really loved this book. _____ Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes has a section dedicated to projects. I really liked this book. This is what taught me Python. I knew C before.
on “Ask HN: Books that teach programming by building a series of small projects?” ↗…FORTRAN on University. After that I don’t programming, but as an engineer I searched some solutions for automatisation. So I have to learned programming again, because FORTRAN can’t solve my requirement. Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming, by Eric Matthes is my favourite for self study the basics.
on “Ask HN: Which book would you recommend for learning Python in detail?” ↗Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes. I am a Deep Learning Research Engineer who works 100% in Python. I had just started second year in college with only basic knowledge in imperative C. Didn't even know how to write a…
on “Ask HN: Which book would you recommend for learning Python in detail?” ↗…on the book for 25-30 minutes and then taking a short break before continuing. This tends to help me focus and retain more of the book. Back when I was learning Python, I used two books in sequence, "Python Crash Course" by Matthes and "Think Python" by Downey. This turned out to be fortuitous, because until I started working through them I didn't know they are two completely different approaches: PCC teaches you how…
on “Eloquent JavaScript 4th edition (2024)” ↗For hobby programming, Python is the best (unless you want to do web development in which case JavaScript is what you want). For Python, a really good book for beginners is Python Crash Course.
on “3rd Edition of Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ by Stroustrup” ↗Python Crash Course
on “Ask HN: What ONE book would you recommend?” ↗…not finish it. Still, a great book. I always feared the breadth of Algorithm books. "A Common Sense Guide to Data Structures and Algorithms" fro PragProg Bookshelf gave me very nice overview of DSA. Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes made programming click for me when I was in my second year in college.
on “Ask HN: The book that did it for you in math and/or CS?” ↗…Engineers and Scientists" by Ronald E. Walpole, Raymond H. Myers, Sharon L. Myers, and Keying E. Ye Optimization: "Convex Optimization" by Stephen Boyd and Lieven Vandenberghe Programming: Python: "Python Crash Course" by Eric Matthes Git: "Pro Git" by Scott Chacon and Ben Straub Machine Learning & Data Science Basics: "Introduction to Data Science" by Laura Igual and Santi Seguí "Python Data Science Handbook" by…
on “Ask HN: I am a full stack developer, where do I start learning for AI” ↗for Python, I recommend the online Introduction to Computer Science 6.x by MIT. If you want a book, I would recommend the Python Crash Course. Take a look at the minimum features you absolutely need to support on the project. You may be able to get away with plain JavaScript rather than learning an entire framework.
on “Ask HN: What do you say when asked “How do I become a software developer?”” ↗As someone who recently taught himself programming later in life, I would strongly recommend the "Learn Enough" series by Michael Hartl and "Python Crash Course". Both are very approachable and provide an excellent intro to programming.
on “Ask HN: Good ntro to programming book for adult with no experience?” ↗Currently reading Python Crash Course. It's pretty great. The first part is all the Python basics, and the next part is three diverse projects: a videogame, data visualisation, and a Django website. You can go back and forth working on the…
on “Humble Book Bundle: Hacking Presented by No Starch Press” ↗