Head First Programming: A learner's guide to programming using the Python language

If you want a slow intro to computer science concepts involving programming, this is an outstanding place to start. Python is friendly, and like others I cannot say enough about the teaching premise of the Head First Series. It has encouraged me to purchase HF Software Development and Python. I just finished this book and I'm just starting the Python book. It's given me the courage to enroll in another programming language class at the college level and start an undergrad Computer Science curriculum without wondering about all of the remediation I might need during the first class. The friendly learning method aside, this is a seriously well written text. It has you developing a couple of apps in ways that most really develop, organically. It takes you through what are likely scenarios for some simple requests by people to do things that they show you how to do in a low key, no pressure learning method that will stay with you long after the book is on your shelf or passed to a friend. If you had trouble with a programming class, missed out on the software skills you wanted to develop this is an outstanding first book. Does not matter if you are 50 years old or 19. Not even thinking about it you learn about libraries, functions and code reuse. You learn how to do things you will no doubt see later if you continue with the series or head off to college or adult learning classes in any computer language. If you did scientific programming at one time and wanted to find a way to bite off newer technology which will let you not fear taking a College level android programming class or learning how to make an application, give this a try. I expect that you will find this is a very important connection to get you into programming, no matter what your background. Oh yeah, the python book suggested you have programming experience of some sort, this book was the perfect answer. I now no longer say I'm going to learn programming, now I can build small programs which I think up and need to see a little more of the guts of the language, so the python book is my next read - for which I cannot wait. Starting today! Good work HF. I'm thinking the process would work well with languages and even to introduce other subjects like electromagnetics... if I have time one day I could definitely see trying to contribute to texts like this. Great stuff!

This textbook was required for my college class. When I first glanced through the book, I thought it to be rather basic since I have taken a few programming classes which want into more depth; however, the layout and presentation of the material was excellent, and the content was brought forth in a simple manner. I would recommend this book to any beginner who has no programming experience. I would buy other books from the Head First series.

The head First series of leaning is by far one of the most ingenious and effective learning methods I've encountered. I work in the Software Dev field and wanted to expand my skillset in Python and Java. I've tried other study guides with marginal success - Head First is straight forward, easy to understand, and the programs you write and run coupled with their methods of reniforcing programming principles really makes the learning enjoyable and I retain the material quite well. Do be advised that the 3rd Chapter is out of date now with Twitter authentication and the workaround is kind of involved. Since Amazon won't let me paste the URL here, if you google Head First forums, then follow the appropriate link, you can then create a forum account and search the Knowledge topics for Chap 3 Issue with Twitter auth. Back to the Head First series... the books are written for Python 3 users. I am running Python 2.7, so several of the programs and scripts they have you build, I have to do a lot of Google searching to get the commands I need to get the functions to run in Python 2.7. This is *NOT* a bad thing... the need to quickly Google for dev solutions at work is a daily task you will encounter anyway, so this gives good practice. Plus it really adds some nice seasoning to the various methods the book is teaching. As to this book (as well as all of Head First's books I study) I can't recommend them highly enough. I think you will be quite pleased with the things you make Python do as you work on the topics here. Enjoy and happy coding.

I got this book for my 15 ear old son who has never programmed. It is very well designed to help the beginner through ACTIVELY learning the core fundamentals of programming. For the novice, this is by far the best book I found. Warning, it does require you to think from the start. My son was put off by what he thought was slow progress. What he didnot realize was that he learned in 3 days what I learned in the first 6 wk of class. I highly recommend this series. I own 6 titles and they are all excellent.

Some exercises include activities that rely on outdated weblinks or discontinued services, which makes practicing certain sections a bit frustrating. On some occasions, I had to rely on AI software to help clarify certain passages or instructions.

What a fun read. It’s a python bom but the authors want you to understand the principles of programming, what make it applicable to other languages.

Good and easy reading, but the quality of diagrams is so inferior. Sometimes it's not clear what's written because of the poor quality images. BTW, I have a Kindle version.

Mir hat es sehr viel Spaß gemacht dieses Buch durchzugehen und zu lesen. Ich war komplett neu beim Programmieren als ich mir dieses Buch gekauft habe und ich finde es ist sehr gut geeignet für Anfänger. Auch gerade durch die Bilder und "Spiele" ist es unterhaltsam und nicht so trocken wie manch andere Literatur.

written nicely. great for starters