Starting Out with Python, Global Edition, 6th edition

Published by Pearson (October 22, 2024) © 2025

  • Tony Gaddis Haywood Community College

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Title overview

Updated for versions of Python up through Python 3.9.

Starting Out with Python introduces programming concepts and problem-solving skills using Tony Gaddis' accessible approach. Written for novice programmers, Gaddis uses easy-to-understand language to introduce concepts. Control structures are explained, then classes and GUI applications. Every chapter includes clear and easy-to-read code listings, practical real-world examples, focused explanations and an abundance of exercises. As you progress through the text, you'll learn to recognise how to design the logic of high-quality programs and then implement those programs using Python.

The 6th Edition is thoroughly updated with new language features and functionality for versions of Python up through Python 3.9.

Key features

  • Written for novice programmers, Gaddis uses easy-to-understand language to introduce concepts. Control structures are explained, then classes and GUI applications.
  • Optional turtle graphics sections are extremely effective at teaching the procedural steps of programming to beginners.
  • Hundreds of example programs explore specific topics or more involved problem solving. Students can run the programs themselves using the source code.
  • In the Spotlight case studies analyse how to solve a programming problem in step-by-step detail.
  • Checkpoints and review questions let students test their understanding at regular intervals.
  • Programming exercises offer hands-on practice opportunities at the end of each chapter.

New to this edition

  • The with Statement is introduced as a way to open files (Ch. 6). Many examples throughout the text show how to use the with statement in practice.
  • Decision structures and Boolean logic coverage include a new introduction to conditional expressions, a new section on single-line if statements, and a new section on the walrus operator and assignment expressions (Ch. 3)
  • Repetitions structures content includes new sections on using the while loop as a count-controlled loop, single-line while loops, and using break, continue, and Python's unique else clause with loops (Ch. 4).
  • Functions content includes new discussions of keyword-only parameters and positional-only parameters, and a new section on default function arguments (Ch.5).
  • Lists and tuples coverage includes a discussion of using count and sum with lists as well as a new section on storing mutable objects in a tuple (Ch. 7).
  • Dictionary merge and update operators are discussed in a new section (Ch. 9).

Key features

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What is Revel?

Dynamic content designed for the way today's students read, think, and learn.

Integrated within the narrative, theory and concepts are brought to life through interactives and videos created to empower students to engage with concepts, and take an active role in learning. Revel's media interactives have been designed to be completed quickly, and videos are brief, so students stay focused and on task.

Revel's quizzing, integrated throughout as well as at the end of each module, provides students opportunities to check their understanding at regular intervals before moving on.

Revel's writing functionality, available in select courses, enables educators to integrate writing - among the best ways to foster and assess critical thinking - into the course without significantly impacting their grading burden. Self-paced Journaling Prompts throughout the narrative encourage students to express their thoughts without breaking stride in their reading. Assignable Shared Writing Activities direct students to share written responses with classmates, fostering peer discussion.

Highlighting, note taking, and a glossary let students customise their reading and studying experience. Instructors can add notes for students too, including reminders or study tips.

Revel is an instructor-led product.

Table of contents

  • Introduction to Computers and Programming
  • Input, Processing, and Output
  • Decision Structures and Boolean Logic
  • Repetition Structures
  • Functions
  • Files and Exceptions
  • Lists and Tuples
  • More About Strings
  • Dictionaries and Sets
  • Classes and Object-Oriented Programming
  • Inheritance
  • Recursion
  • GUI Programming
  • Database Programming
  • APPENDICES
  • Installing Python
  • Introduction to IDLE
  • The ASCII Character Set
  • Predefined Named Colors
  • More About the import Statement
  • Formatting Numeric Output with the format () Function
  • Installing Modules with the pip Utility
  • Answers to Checkpoints

Author bios

Tony Gaddis is the principal author of the Starting Out With series of text books. Tony has two decades of experience teaching computer science courses, primarily at Haywood Community College. He is a highly acclaimed instructor. The Starting Out With series includes introductory books covering C++, Java, Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft C#, Python, Programming Logic and Design, Alice, and App Inventor, all published by Pearson.

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