Introducing Python: Modern Computing in Simple Packages

Python is approachable at the beginning, but its real usefulness comes into view as you learn to put the language to work. In Introducing Python: Modern Computing in Simple Packages, Bill Lubanovic builds from core programming ideas toward practical applications involving files, databases, networks, the web, and more. This third edition also adds coverage of real-world AI models and ways to improve Python performance.

Start with the language, then see how it works in practice

The book lays out the foundations—including Python setup, types, variables, data structures, and readable code—before connecting them to the larger toolkit developers use. Its broad scope helps readers see how individual language features relate to everyday programming tasks, rather than treating Python as a collection of disconnected syntax rules.

Explore Python beyond the basics

Later material reaches into application areas such as web and database development, networking, and the use of third-party packages. The third edition brings the discussion up to date with chapters on discovering, evaluating, and using AI models, alongside approaches to improving Python’s performance.

Practice as you go

Review and practice sections appear throughout the contents, giving readers opportunities to revisit concepts and work with them. The book’s project-oriented walkthroughs connect explanations to concrete uses of the language, including tasks developers encounter in larger applications.

Who may find this edition useful?

O’Reilly describes the book’s level as beginner to intermediate. It can suit readers establishing a foundation in Python as well as those who know the basics and want a wider view of the language’s packages and application areas. Readers interested in how Python supports work across business, science, and the arts will also find that breadth reflected in the book’s subject matter.

For a learning path that moves from Python fundamentals toward the tools and applications surrounding the language, this third edition offers a substantial place to begin—and room to keep exploring. 💻