Is Python a

• Generator expressions (Chapter 17).• New generator function features (Chapter 17).• Function decorators (Chapter 26).• The set object type (Chapter 5).• New built-in functions: sorted, sum, any, all, enumerate (Chapters 4 and 13).• The decimal fixed-precision object type (Chapter 5).• New and expanded material on files, list comprehensions, iterators, and more(Chapters 13 and 17).• New development tools coverage: Eclipse, distutils, unittest and doctest,IDLE enhancements, Shedskin, and so on (Chapters 3 and 29).Smaller language changes (for instance, the widespread use of True and False, thenew sys.exc_info for fetching exception details, and the demise of string-basedexceptions, string methods, and the apply and reduce built-ins) are discussedthroughout the book. In addition, some of the features that were new in the prioredition enjoy substantially expanded coverage here, including three-limit slices, andthe arbitrary arguments call syntax that subsumes apply.This Edition’s Python Training ChangesBesides such language changes, this edition has been augmented with new topics andexamples presented in the Python training sessions I have held in recent years. Forexample, you’ll find:• A new chapter introducing built-in types (Chapter 4).• A new chapter introducing statement syntax (Chapter 10).• A new full chapter on dynamic typing, with enhanced coverage (Chapter 6).• An expanded OOP introduction (Chapter 22).• New examples for files, scopes, statement nesting, classes, exceptions, and more.Many additions and changes were made with Python beginners in mind, and sometopics have been moved to appear at the places where they have proved simplest todigest in training classes. List comprehensions and iterators, for example, now maketheir initial appearance in conjunction with the for loop statement, instead of laterwith functional tools.You’ll also find that the coverage of many original core language topics has been substantiallyexpanded in this edition, with new discussions and examples added.Because this text has become something of a de facto standard resource for learningthe core Python language, the presentation has been made more complete and augmentedwith new use cases throughout.xxx | Preface