Working with Python

In this chapter, we will review some of the essential aspects of software development using Python, such as its data types and powerful data manipulation tools. Python has a way of approaching data management that, while generally intuitive, also has nuances the user must master. For example, if an ordinary person was asked to state the numbers in the range 1 to 5, they would probably answer “1, 2, 3, 4, 5.” Unfortunately, in Python, the range(1,5) function returns [1,2,3,4]. Small details like this are obviously important and indicative of how Python approaches data structures. The Python programmer must be comfortable with this “Pythonic Way” through understanding fundamentals like those we provide here for review and reference.