If you've ever spent hours renaming files or updating hundreds of spreadsheet cells, you know how boring such tasks can be. What if your computer could do this for you?
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python
In this completely redesigned second edition of the bestselling classic Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, learn how to use Python to write programs that do in minutes what would take hours by hand - no programming skills required. You will learn the basics of Python and explore Python's extensive library of modules to perform specific tasks such as scraping data from websites, reading PDF and Word documents, and automating click and typing tasks.
The second edition of this international fan favorite has a brand new chapter on input validation, as well as tutorials on automating Gmail and Google Sheets, and tips on automatically updating CSV files. You will learn how to create programs that effortlessly provide useful automation services for:
- Search for text in a file or multiple files
- Create, update, move, and rename files and folders
- Search the Internet and download online content
- Update and format data in Excel spreadsheets of any size
- Split, merge, watermark, and encrypt PDFs
- Send replies via email and SMS notifications
- Fill out the online forms
Step-by-step instructions walk you through each program, and updated hands-on projects at the end of each chapter challenge you to improve on those programs and use your new skills to automate similar tasks.
Don't spend your time doing the work a well-trained monkey might do. Even if you've never written a line of code, you can let your computer do the dirty work. Find out how in Automating Boring Things with Python, 2nd Edition.
Review by Kyle
I've only read a chapter into this ebook, but it has already been the best programming book that I've ever read. His examples are crystal clear, and he doesn't simply tell you to "add x between a and b", instead he lays out each step of the code line by line. He even repeats the same code several times in examples to demonstrate different points, and explains why some things do not work. He also clearly states why certain parts of the code are included, and why others aren't. I feel as if unlike other books I've read from other publishers, that No Starch Publishing actually checks what they're putting into the world, because this author actually knows how to explain things via a written medium.
Review by Bill
This book can teach you how to code in Python. You'll learn to build simple programs that automate tasks, and eventually create something useful. By doing so, you'll learn how to think logically, and solve problems. Programming is not magic; it's logic applied to symbols. And if you're interested in learning how to program, you should start with this book. It teaches you everything you need to know, and then some.
Review by R. C. Clark
This book explains abstract concepts in a way that helps readers understand how they apply to Python. It uses many examples to help readers understand the practical applications for Python elements. It's easy reading and follows.