Preface

Python is a language that is easy to learn and both powerful and convenient from the start. Mastering Python, however, is a completely different question.

Every programming problem you will encounter has at least several possible solutions and/or paradigms to apply within the vast possibilities of Python. This book will not only illustrate a range of different and new techniques but also explain where and when a method should be applied.

This book is not a beginner's guide to Python 3. It is a book that can teach you about the more advanced techniques possible within Python. Specifically targeting Python 3.5 and up, it also demonstrates several Python 3.5-only features such as async def and await statements.

As a Python programmer with many years of experience, I will attempt to rationalize the choices made in this book with relevant background information. These rationalizations are in no way strict guidelines, however. Several of these cases boil down to personal style in the end. Just know that they stem from experience and are, in many cases, the solutions recommended by the Python community.

Some of the references in this book might not be obvious to you if you are not a fan of Monty Python. This book extensively uses spam and eggs instead of foo and bar in code samples. To provide some background information, I recommend watching the "Spam" sketch by Monty Python. It is positively silly!