Ever wondered how to make a computer follow instructions? If so, then it is time to get coding! A Beginner's Guide to Coding is an easy-to-follow guide to the basics of coding, using the free programming languages of Scratch and Python. These step-by-step projects will have young coders talking to their own chatbots or making their own computer games in no time. Accessible, engaging, and fun, this book is bursting with eye-catching illustrations and fantastic projects to introduce aspiring young programmers to the world of coding.
With this visual guide to computer programming for beginners, it has never been easier to learn how to code. Coding skills are in high demand and the need for programmers is still growing. Covering three of the most popular languages for new coders, this book uses a graphic method to break complex subjects into user-friendly chunks, bringing essential skills within easy reach. Each chapter contains tutorials on practical projects designed to teach you the main applications of each language, such as building websites, creating games, and designing apps. The book also looks at many of the main coding languages that are out there, outlining the key applications of each language, so you can choose the right language for you. You'll learn to think like a programmer by breaking a problem down into parts, before turning those parts into lines of code. Short, easy-to-follow steps then show you, piece by piece, how to build a complete program. There are challenges for you to tackle to build your confidence before moving on. Written by a team of expert coders and coding teachers, Beginner's Step-by-Step Coding Course is the ideal way to get to set you on the road to code.
Now in its third edition, this bestseller will appeal to anyone, of any age, who wants to begin coding. Use Coding for Beginners in easy steps to help you quickly create a programming environment on your computer, then, learn how to: · Write Python code to create your programs. · Store information in data structures. · Control program flow using control structures. · Create re-usable blocks of program code. · Code powerful algorithms and classes for Object Oriented Programming (OOP). All features are illustrated using the Python language color-coding convention, and all code is available to download free – making it even easier! Includes comparison examples in C, C++, C#, and Java to give you a rounded view of computer coding. Ideal for newcomers to programming, including youngsters needing to learn coding for the school curriculum – all in easy steps! Table of Contents 1. Getting Started 2. Saving Data 3. Performing Operations 4. Making Lists 5. Controlling Blocks 6. Creating Functions 7. Sorting Algorithms 8. Importing Libraries 9. Managing Text 10. Programming Objects 11. Building Interfaces 12. Developing Apps 13. Transferring Skills
"Do you like video games? How about social media? Streaming movies? Online shopping? Smart phones? All of the amazing technology you use every day was created by ordinary people who decided to learn an extraordinarily useful skill: coding. And here's the best part: you can learn it too! If you have ever been curious about how to program but don't know where to begin, you have picked up the right book! With over one hundred delightful illustrations, engaging text, and lighthearted humor on almost every page, Code for Teens is sure to keep you stimulated and entertained while you learn. Knowing how to code opens up a huge world of new, exciting possibilities. Code for Teens delivers the tools and tricks that will give any reader the foundational knowledge needed to understand JavaScript, the world's most commonly used coding language. From understanding basic operations and functions to creating your own loops and beyond, you'll begin developing the skills of superstar programming pros
Do you have creative ideas that you wish you could transform into code? Do you want to boost your problem solving and logic skills? Do you want to enhance your career by adopting an algorithmic mindset? In our increasingly digital world, coding is an essential skill. Communicating an algorithm to a machine to perform a set of tasks is vital. Beginner’s Guide to Code Algorithms: Experiments to Enhance Productivity and Solve Problems written by Deepankar Maitra teaches you how to think like a programmer. The author unravels the secret behind writing code – building a good algorithm. Algorithmic thinking leads to asking the right question and enables a shift from issue resolution to value creation. Having this mindset will make you more marketable to employers. This book takes you on a problem-solving journey to expand your mind and increase your willingness to experiment with code. You will: Learn the art of building an algorithm through hands-on exercises Understand how to develop code for inspiring productivity concepts Build a mentality of developing algorithms to solve problems Develop, test, review, and improve code through guided experimentation This book is designed to develop a culture of logical thinking through intellectual stimulation. It will benefit students and teachers of programming, business professionals, as well as experienced users of Microsoft Excel who wish to become proficient with macros.
This textbook on Python 3 explains concepts such as variables and what they represent, how data is held in memory, how a for loop works and what a string is. It also introduces key concepts such as functions, modules and packages as well as object orientation and functional programming. Each section is prefaced with an introductory chapter, before continuing with how these ideas work in Python. Topics such as generators and coroutines are often misunderstood and these are explained in detail, whilst topics such as Referential Transparency, multiple inheritance and exception handling are presented using examples. A Beginners Guide to Python 3 Programming provides all you need to know about Python, with numerous examples provided throughout including several larger worked case studies illustrating the ideas presented in the previous chapters.
All aboard The Coding Train! This beginner-friendly creative coding tutorial is designed to grow your skills in a fun, hands-on way as you build simulations of real-world phenomena with “The Coding Train” YouTube star Daniel Shiffman. What if you could re-create the awe-inspiring flocking patterns of birds or the hypnotic dance of fireflies—with code? For over a decade, The Nature of Code has empowered countless readers to do just that, bridging the gap between creative expression and programming. This innovative guide by Daniel Shiffman, creator of the beloved Coding Train, welcomes budding and seasoned programmers alike into a world where code meets playful creativity. This JavaScript-based edition of Shiffman’s groundbreaking work gently unfolds the mysteries of the natural world, turning complex topics like genetic algorithms, physics-based simulations, and neural networks into accessible and visually stunning creations. Embark on this extraordinary adventure with projects involving: A physics engine: Simulate the push and pull of gravitational attraction. Flocking birds: Choreograph the mesmerizing dance of a flock. Branching trees: Grow lifelike and organic tree structures. Neural networks: Craft intelligent systems that learn and adapt. Cellular automata: Uncover the magic of self-organizing patterns. Evolutionary algorithms: Play witness to natural selection in your code. Shiffman’s work has transformed thousands of curious minds into creators, breaking down barriers between science, art, and technology, and inviting readers to see code not just as a tool for tasks but as a canvas for boundless creativity. Whether you’re deciphering the elegant patterns of natural phenomena or crafting your own digital ecosystems, Shiffman’s guidance is sure to inform and inspire. The Nature of Code is not just about coding; it’s about looking at the natural world in a new way and letting its wonders inspire your next creation. Dive in and discover the joy of turning code into art—all while mastering coding fundamentals along the way. NOTE: All examples are written with p5.js, a JavaScript library for creative coding, and are available on the book's website.
Learn to Code by Solving Problems is a practical introduction to programming using Python. It uses coding-competition challenges to teach you the mechanics of coding and how to think like a savvy programmer. Computers are capable of solving almost any problem when given the right instructions. That’s where programming comes in. This beginner’s book will have you writing Python programs right away. You’ll solve interesting problems drawn from real coding competitions and build your programming skills as you go. Every chapter presents problems from coding challenge websites, where online judges test your solutions and provide targeted feedback. As you practice using core Python features, functions, and techniques, you’ll develop a clear understanding of data structures, algorithms, and other programming basics. Bonus exercises invite you to explore new concepts on your own, and multiple-choice questions encourage you to think about how each piece of code works. You’ll learn how to: Run Python code, work with strings, and use variables Write programs that make decisions Make code more efficient with while and for loops Use Python sets, lists, and dictionaries to organize, sort, and search data Design programs using functions and top-down design Create complete-search algorithms and use Big O notation to design more efficient code By the end of the book, you’ll not only be proficient in Python, but you’ll also understand how to think through problems and tackle them with code. Programming languages come and go, but this book gives you the lasting foundation you need to start thinking like a programmer.
Programming with OpenSCAD is a STEM-focused, learn-to-code book for beginners that introduces core computational thinking concepts through the design of 3D-printable objects. Develop coding skills as you build increasingly complex 3D models and print them into fun games, puzzles, and more. OpenSCAD is freely available open source software that enables nondesigners to easily create 3D designs using a text-based programming language. It’s a great language for beginners because the instant 3D visualization gives you immediate feedback on the results of your code. This book channels OpenSCAD’s visual benefits and user-friendliness into a STEAM-focused, project-based tutorial that teaches the basics of coding, 3D printing, and computational thinking while you develop your spatial reasoning by creating 3D designs with OpenSCAD. Presuming no prior experience with either programming or 3D design, each chapter builds a scaffolded understanding of core concepts. You’ll start by defining, drawing and displaying geometric primitives with text-based code, then expand your creative toolbox with transformation operations – like rotating, reflecting, scaling, and combining shapes. As the projects become more sophisticated, so will your programming skills; you’ll use loops for replicating objects, if statements for differentiating your designs, and parameterized, self-contained modules to divide longer scripts into separate files. Along the way, you'll learn 3D printing tips so that you can produce physical mementos of your progress and get physical feedback that lets you correct mistakes in real time. In addition, the book provides hands-on and accessible design exercises at the end of each chapter so that you can practice applying new concepts immediately after they are introduced. You’ll learn: Programming basics like working with variables, loops, conditional statements, and parameterized modules Transformation operations, such as rotate, reflect, and scale, to create complex shapes Extrusion techniques for turning 2D shapes into elaborate 3D designs Computational-thinking concepts, including decomposition, abstraction, and pattern recognition OpenSCAD’s Boolean, Minkowski and hull operations for combining multiple 3D shapes into one 3D design fundamentals, like navigating the xyz-axis, orthogonal vs. perspective views, and constructive solid geometry Organizing bigger designs into separate files to make code more readable and collaborative Accessibly written for a wide audience (advanced middle schoolers, high school students, college students, artists, makers and lifelong-learners alike), this is the perfect guide to becoming proficient at programming in general and 3D modeling in particular.
INCLUDES 12 FREE, FULLY FUNCTIONAL GAME DOWNLOADS! Learn one of today's most important skills--while creating your own games! With this illustrated, interactive guide, readers can create, test, and play fun 2D computer games. Just follow the easy step-by-step examples to program and share games on an Apple or Windows PC, Android device, or Apple iOS tablet. With code instruction in JavaScript, this book is the perfect springboard for mastering any coding skill.
