Programming Languages/Interface & language

Python Core

17 micro-topics in Programming Languages, each with the evidence that proves you have it and the written reason behind every link. Before you start, it rests on 1 other domain. Downstream, it holds up 6 domains.

17 topics · depth 0–6 of 16 · 21 internal links · 1 in · 11 out

Prerequisites · 1 links in

Before you start

Load-bearing links first. Each one says what in this domain rests on what outside it, and why.

Text Processing

1 link

supporting

Apply regular expressions in Python rests on Read and write basic regular expressions

The pattern language is the same one you met in the shell.

17 topics · depth 0–6

What you will be able to do

In prerequisite order. Each idea names the artifact that closes it, the market demand that put it on the map, and what it stands on.

Depth 0 · conceptual · unassisted · M06 §5.1

Declare variables and use dynamic typing

Knows what names bind to

Evidence: Predicts aliasing behavior for a mutable value
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: Nothing sits under this one — it is an entry point.

Depth 1 · conceptual · unassisted · M06 §5.1

Distinguish mutable from immutable types

Predicts what a function can change

Evidence: Explains a surprising in-place mutation
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Declare variables and use dynamic typing
Types describe what names are bound to.

Depth 1 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.5

Work with lists and tuples

Indexes, slices and chooses between them

Evidence: Slices and sorts a dataset correctly
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Declare variables and use dynamic typing
A list is a value bound to a name.

Depth 1 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.6

Work with dictionaries and sets

Uses key-value and unique collections

Evidence: Chooses dict or set for a lookup problem
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Declare variables and use dynamic typing
A dictionary is a value bound to a name.
supporting
Work with lists and tuples
Collection intuition transfers from sequences to mappings.

Depth 2 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.1

Format and manipulate strings

Applies f-strings and string methods

Evidence: Builds and parses text without concatenation sprawl
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Distinguish mutable from immutable types
Strings are a type.

Depth 2 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.2

Apply operators

Uses arithmetic, comparison, membership and identity

Evidence: Chooses is versus == correctly
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Distinguish mutable from immutable types
Operator behavior depends on types.

Depth 3 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.3

Control flow in Python

Applies if, for, while and truthiness

Evidence: Implements branching logic that terminates
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Apply operators
Conditions are expressions.

Depth 3 · procedural · scaffolded · M06 §5.7

Apply regular expressions in Python

Matches and extracts with the re module

Evidence: Extracts fields from semi-structured text
Market anchor: Python · regex
Rests on: load-bearing
Format and manipulate strings
Patterns operate on strings.
supporting
Read and write basic regular expressions · Text Processing
The pattern language is the same one you met in the shell.

Depth 4 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.3

Write comprehensions

Expresses transformation and filtering inline

Evidence: Replaces an accumulator loop with a comprehension
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Control flow in Python
A comprehension is a loop in expression form.
load-bearing
Work with lists and tuples
Comprehensions build lists.

Depth 4 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.4

Define functions

Uses positional, keyword and default parameters

Evidence: Writes a function with a clear, documented signature
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Control flow in Python
Functions contain control flow.

Depth 4 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.8

Read and write files

Uses open with context managers

Evidence: Processes a file without leaking handles
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Control flow in Python
File processing loops over content.
supporting
Handle exceptions
File operations are where exception handling first pays.

Depth 5 · conceptual · scaffolded · M06 §5.4

Use *args and **kwargs

Accepts variable arguments deliberately

Evidence: Wraps a function without losing its signature
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Define functions
Variable arguments extend the signature.

Depth 5 · conceptual · unassisted · M06 §5.4

Reason about scope

Distinguishes local, global and nonlocal

Evidence: Explains an unexpected name error
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Define functions
Scope is created by functions.

Depth 5 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.8

Serialize and deserialize JSON

Loads and dumps structured data

Evidence: Round-trips a record through JSON
Market anchor: Python · data processing
Rests on: load-bearing
Read and write files
JSON is read from and written to files and strings.
load-bearing
Work with dictionaries and sets
JSON decodes into dictionaries and lists.

Depth 5 · procedural · unassisted · M06 §5.9

Handle exceptions

Catches specific exceptions and raises custom ones

Evidence: Fails with a specific exception, never a bare except
Market anchor: Python
Rests on: load-bearing
Define functions
Exceptions propagate out of calls.

Depth 5 · conceptual · unassisted · M06 §5.10

Define classes

Writes __init__, methods and dunder methods

Evidence: Models a domain object with a useful repr
Market anchor: Python · object-oriented programming
Rests on: load-bearing
Define functions
Methods are functions.
supporting
Work with dictionaries and sets
Objects generalize the record you were modeling with a dict.