PYTHON FOR KIDS PYTHON FOR KIDS A Playful Introduction to Programming J a s o n R . B r i g g s Python is a powerful, expressive program- ming language that’s easy to learn and fun to use! But books about learning to program in Python can be kind of dull, gray, and boring, and that’s no fun for anyone. Python for Kids brings Python to life and brings you (and your parents) into the world of programming. The ever-patient Jason R. Briggs will guide you through the basics as you experi- ment with unique (and often hilarious) example programs that feature ravenous monsters, secret agents, thieving ravens, and more. New terms are defined; code is colored, dissected, and explained; and quirky, full-color illustrations keep things on the lighter side. Chapters end with programming puzzles designed to stretch your brain and strengthen your understanding. By the end of the book you’ll have programmed two complete games: a clone of the famous Pong and “Mr. Stick Man Races for the Exit”—a platform game with jumps, animation, and much more. As you strike out on your programming adventure, you’ll learn how to: M Use fundamental data structures like lists, tuples, and maps M Organize and reuse your code with func- tions and modules M Use control structures like loops and conditional statements M Draw shapes and patterns with Python’s turtle module M Create games, animations, and other graphical wonders with tkinter Why should serious adults have all the fun? Python for Kids is your ticket into the amaz- ing world of computer programming. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jason R. Briggs has been a programmer since the age of eight, when he first learned BASIC on a Radio Shack TRS-80. He has written software professionally as a developer and systems archi- tect and served as Contributing Editor for Java Developer’s Journal. His articles have appeared in JavaWorld, ONJava, and ONLamp. Python for Kids is his first book. SHELVE IN: PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/PYTHON www.nostarch.com THE FINEST IN GEEK ENTERTAINMENT™ For kids aged 10+ (and their parents) real programming. real easy. REAL Programming. REAL EASY. $34.95 ($36.95 CDN) Illustrations by Miran Lipovaca PYTHON FOR KIDS B r i g g s PYTHON FOR KIDS Python for Kids Python for Kids A Playful Introduction to Programming By Jason R. Briggs San Francisco PYTHON FOR KIDS. Copyright © 2013 by Jason R. Briggs. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher. First printing 16 15 14 13 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ISBN-10: 1-59327-407-6 ISBN-13: 978-1-59327-407-8 Publisher: William Pollock Production Editor: Serena Yang Cover and Interior Design: Octopod Studios Illustrator: Miran Lipovaca Developmental Editor: William Pollock Technical Reviewers: Josh Pollock and Maria Fernandez Copyeditor: Marilyn Smith Compositor: Serena Yang Proofreader: Greg Teague For information on book distributors or translations, please contact No Starch Press, Inc. directly: No Starch Press, Inc. 38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 phone: 415.863.9900; fax: 415.863.9950;