PCAP: Certified Associate in Python Programming Certification

Module 1: Modules and Packages (12%)

1.1 – Import and use modules and packages

• import variants: import, from import, import as, import *
• advanced qualifying for nested modules
• the dir() function
• the sys.path variable

1.2 – Perform evaluations using the math module

• functions: ceil(), floor(), trunc(), factorial(), hypot(), sqrt()

1.3 – Generate random values using the random module

• functions: random(), seed(), choice(), sample()

1.4 – Discover host platform properties using the platform module

• functions: platform(), machine(), processor(), system(), version(), python_implementation(), python_version_tuple()

1.5 – Create and use user-defined modules and packages

• idea and rationale;
• the __pycache__ directory
• the __name__ variable
• public and private variables
• the __init__.py file
• searching for/through modules/packages
• nested packages vs. directory trees

Module 2: Exceptions (14%)

2.1 – Handle errors using Python-defined exceptions

• except, except:-except, except:-else:, except (e1, e2)
• the hierarchy of exceptions
• raise, raise ex
• assert
• event classes
• except E as e
• the arg property

2.2 – Extend the Python exceptions hierarchy with self-defined exceptions

• self-defined exceptions
• defining and using self-defined exceptions

Module 3: Strings (18%)

3.1 – Understand machine representation of characters

• encoding standards: ASCII, UNICODE, UTF-8, code points, escape sequences

3.2 – Operate on strings

• functions: ord(), chr()
• indexing, slicing, immutability
• iterating through strings, concatenating, multiplying, comparing (against strings and numbers)
• operators: in, not in

3.3 – Employ built-in string methods

• methods: .isxxx(), .join(), .split(), .sort(), sorted(), .index(), .find(), .rfind()

Module 4: Object-Oriented Programming (34%)

4.1 – Understand the Object-Oriented approach

• ideas and notions: class, object, property, method, encapsulation, inheritance, superclass, subclass, identifying class components

4.2 – Employ class and object properties

• instance vs. class variables: declarations and initializations
• the __dict__ property (objects vs. classes)
• private components (instances vs. classes)
• name mangling

4.3 – Equip a class with methods

• declaring and using methods
• the self parameter

4.4 – Discover the class structure

• introspection and the hasattr() function (objects vs classes)
• properties: __name__, __module__ , __bases__

4.5 – Build a class hierarchy using inheritance

• single and multiple inheritance
• the isinstance() function
• overriding
• operators:
• not is, is
• polymorphism
• overriding the __str__() method
• diamonds

4.6 – Construct and initialize objects

• declaring and invoking constructors

Module 5: Miscellaneous (22%)

Scope: List Comprehensions, Lambdas, Closures, and I/O Operations

5.1 – Build complex lists using list comprehension

• list comprehensions: the if operator, nested comprehensions

5.2 – Embed lambda functions into the code

• lambdas: defining and using lambdas
• self-defined functions taking lambdas as arguments
• functions: map(), filter()

5.3 – Define and use closures

• closures: meaning and rationale
• defining and using closures

5.4 – Understand basic Input/Output terminology

• I/O modes
• predefined streams
• handles vs. streams
• text vs. binary modes

5.5 – Perform Input/Output operations

• the open() function
• the errno variable and its values
• functions: close(), .read(), .write(), .readline(), readlines()
• using bytearray as input/output buffer