Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Open source and easy to use, Python offers the availability of exciting libraries of software, application programming interfaces, and even connections to web services. This textbook uses Python as a working environment to teach the basics of computing for students with no prior programming experience. Unlike similar texts, it organizes topics based on a functional first approach to teaching programming. The book includes case studies of practical problems as well as homework and interactive tools online, such as flashcards"--