Google's Python Class

This is a short class by Google for people with a little bit of programming experience who want to learn Python 2. The class includes written materials, lecture videos, and lots of code exercises.

Created by: Nick Parlante

Produced in 2010

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What you will learn

  • Introduction to the Python language.
  • Installing Python on your machine.
  • Python Strings: uses and applications.

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Quality Score

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Overall Score : 88 / 100

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Course Description

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python Awards Best Short Course

This is a free class for people with a little bit of programming experience who want to learn Python 2. The class includes written materials, lecture videos, and lots of code exercises to practice Python coding. These materials are used within Google to introduce Python to people who have just a little programming experience.

The first exercises work on basic Python concepts like strings and lists, building up to the later exercises which are full programs dealing with text files, processes, and http connections. The class's geared for people who have a little bit of programming experience in some language, enough to know what a variable or if statement is. Beyond that, you do not need to be an expert programmer to use this material.

NOTE: As this course was created in 2010, it teaches Python 2. We recommend you go with a course that focuses on Python 3 which is the latest version of Python.

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Pros

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Cons

    • One of the top-ranked classes among Reddit's r/learnpython community.
    • Finds a rare balance between theoretical and practical lessons in programming.
    • Designed for beginners. Even if this is your first attempt at using Python you can succeed.
    • Not an introduction to computer science in general. Newcomers to Python will be fine, but newcomers to coding in general may struggle.
    • Course was developed around Python 2.
    • Course is essentially a release of internal Google training documents. Some of the content is dated.

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Instructor Details

Nick Parlante

Nick Parlante has been teaching Computer Science at Stanford for over 20 years, and teaches programming best practices at Google. Nick has also produced the Google Python Class and codingbat.com code practice site, and the infamous Binky Pointer Fun video.

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Reviews

4.4

18 total reviews

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By John Goodwin on 3/15/2019

Definitely a strong short course from Google. Couldn't find much wrong with this short course and the end result gives you a great start at jumping into Python. Not to mention that this is free!

By Hartley Brody on 4/25/2019

The class has been manageable in terms of time commitment. That is part of what makes the course accessible. Each lesson is very focused on accomplishing one particular thing, while building on knowledge accumulated in previous weeks. Some assignments were very challenging for me, but not so challenging, I couldn't succeed with a bit of effort, and, when stumped, pursuing answers to questions either online (Stack Overflow recommended) or from the TAs, or from a friend I know who's expert in Python. I also really appreciate the serial structure of the five Python for Everybody courses. I was a bit confused about how that worked at the start, but I really love the structure now that I have the hang of it.

By Abra Cadabra on 6/20/2018

This tutorial is a shame. Authors confuse basic programming terms. For example they do not see difference between key and value in dictionary.

By Vimal Raj on 10/26/2018

t's really cool course when you wanna start to learn PythonAlso this course will give lots of things apart from basic. As a beginner it's a worthy.

By Hartley Brody on 1/25/2012

The lovably geeky Nick Parlante a Google employee and CS lecturer at Stanford has written some awesomely succinct tutorials that not only tell you how you can use Python, but also how you should use Python. This makes them a fantastic resource, regardless of whether youre just starting, or youve been working with Python for awhile.The course also features six YouTube videos of Nick giving a lesson in front of some new Google employees. These make it feel like hes actually there teaching you every feature and trick, and Id highly recommend watching all of them as you go through the lessons.

By Martin Weigert on 11/28/2016

The course targets people with a little bit of programming experience. In a few compact chapters the most important components of Python are explained and enhanced with exercises packed into downloadable Python files. The course helped me to refresh what I had learned before and the exercises included various challenging tasks which required quite some online research, but which eventually were still doable before I would have lost my patience.

By madetoanon on 4/6/2019

Has accompanying video lessons on YouTube.Its the best one taught by Nick Parlante. You should definitely check out his homepage too and try solving problems on codingbat.com

By brenoyano on 4/2/2018

I think that google's developer python course is a good start

By optagon on 9/13/2014

I really liked Google's Python class on Youtube, and I kept going back to it for quick reference while I was learning.

By adebar on 2/18/2011

For someone who has already had CS lessons and wants a more practically oriented introduction to Python, I'd recommend Google's Python Class.

By Jakob De Hertogh on 12/3/2016

I assume this course may be used as a resource for developers in other languages who want/need to get a basic understanding of Python as well, and otherwise its just an educational resource for everyone.

By Mark Francis on 12/3/2016

The class includes lecture videos, written materials, and lots of code exercises to practice Python coding , I Certain Recommend This Class For Any One Interested In Python