Python Getting Started

Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that has gained immense popularity in recent years due to its simplicity, flexibility, and efficiency. It was first released in 1991 by Guido van Rossum and is now maintained by the Python Software Foundation. Python is an interpreted language, which means that it does not need to be compiled before it can be executed. This makes it an ideal language for beginners who want to learn programming.

To get started with Python, you will need to download and install the Python interpreter, which is available for free from the official Python website. Once you have installed Python, you can open a Python console or create a Python script using any text editor.

Python has a clean and simple syntax, which makes it easy to learn and understand. It is an object-oriented language, which means that everything in Python is an object, including variables, functions, and classes. Python also supports functional programming, which allows you to write concise and expressive code.

One of the key features of Python is its extensive library of modules, which provide a wide range of functionality for tasks such as data processing, web development, machine learning, and more. The most commonly used modules include NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Scikit-learn, and Flask.

To get started with Python, you can start by learning the basics of the language such as variables, data types, control structures, functions, and classes. Once you have a good grasp of the fundamentals, you can start exploring the various modules and libraries available for Python.

Python also has a large and active community, which provides plenty of resources and support for beginners. There are many online forums, tutorials, and courses available for learning Python, as well as a vast array of books and documentation.

In summary, Python is an easy-to-learn and powerful programming language that is widely used in various fields such as data science, machine learning, web development, and more. With its clean and simple syntax, extensive library of modules, and active community, Python is an excellent language for beginners who want to learn programming.

Python Install
Installing Python is a relatively straightforward process that can be done in a few simple steps. Here's how to install Python on your computer:
  • Go to the official Python website at https://www.python.org/downloads/ and select the appropriate installer for your operating system. There are different versions of Python available, so make sure you choose the one that matches your system.
  • Once you have downloaded the installer, run it and follow the installation instructions. The installer will ask you to choose the installation location, set up environment variables, and choose optional features.
  • After the installation is complete, you should be able to access Python from the command line or from your preferred Integrated Development Environment (IDE). To check if Python is installed correctly, open a command prompt or terminal window and type "python --version". If Python is installed correctly, you should see the version number displayed on the screen.
  • You can also install third-party packages and modules for Python using the pip package manager. Pip is included with Python by default, so you don't need to install it separately. To install a package, open a command prompt or terminal window and type "pip install package-name". Replace "package-name" with the name of the package you want to install.
  • It's important to keep your Python installation up to date to ensure that you have access to the latest features and bug fixes. You can check for updates by visiting the official Python website or by running the command "python -m pip install --upgrade pip".
In addition to the standard Python installation, there are also several Python distributions available that come with additional libraries, tools, and environments pre-installed. Examples of popular Python distributions include Anaconda, Miniconda, and Enthought Canopy.

In summary, installing Python is a simple process that involves downloading and running the appropriate installer for your system. Once installed, you can access Python from the command line or IDE, install third-party packages using pip, and keep your installation up to date with the latest versions and bug fixes.

Read More:- Python Introduction

Many PCs and Macs will have python already installed.

To check if you have python installed on a Windows PC, search in the start bar for Python or run the following on the Command Line (cmd.exe):

Python Getting Started

To check if you have python installed on a Linux or Mac, then on linux open the command line or on Mac open the Terminal and type:

Python Getting Started

If you find that you do not have Python installed on your computer, then you can download it for free from the following website: https://www.python.org

Python Quickstart
Python is an interpreted programming language, this means that as a developer you write Python (.py) files in a text editor and then put those files into the python interpreter to be executed.

The way to run a python file is like this on the command line:

Python Getting Started

Where "helloworld.py" is the name of your python file.

Let's write our first Python file, called helloworld.py, which can be done in any text editor.

Python Getting Started

Simple as that. Save your file. Open your command line, navigate to the directory where you saved your file, and run:

Python Getting Started

The output should read:

Python Getting Started

Congratulations, you have written and executed your first Python program.

The Python Command Line
The Python Command Line, also known as the Python REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop), is an interactive environment where you can write and execute Python code directly from the command line or terminal window. Here are some tips for using the Python Command Line:
  • Launch the Python Command Line: To launch the Python Command Line, open a command prompt or terminal window and type "python". This will start the Python interpreter and display the version number and a prompt (usually ">>>") where you can enter Python commands.
  • Enter Python commands: Once you see the prompt, you can enter Python commands and see the results immediately. For example, you can type "print('Hello, World!')" and press Enter to see the message "Hello, World!" displayed on the screen.
  • Use the Tab key for autocompletion: If you're not sure of the exact spelling or syntax of a Python command or variable, you can use the Tab key for autocompletion. For example, if you type "pr" and press Tab, Python will automatically complete it to "print".
  • Use the up and down arrows for command history: You can use the up and down arrows to cycle through previous commands you've entered. This can be helpful if you want to reuse a command or make a small modification to an existing command.
  • Use the help() function for documentation: If you're not sure how to use a particular Python function or module, you can use the built-in help() function to display documentation. For example, you can type "help(print)" to see information about the print() function.
  • Use the exit() function to exit: When you're finished using the Python Command Line, you can use the exit() function to exit the interpreter. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Ctrl + D (Mac/Linux).
The Python Command Line is a powerful tool for testing and experimenting with Python code. You can quickly test out code snippets and get immediate feedback on the results. However, it's important to note that the Python Command Line is not a full-fledged development environment and is not recommended for larger projects or long-term development. For larger projects, it's better to use a dedicated code editor or IDE.

To test a short amount of code in python sometimes it is quickest and easiest not to write the code in a file. This is made possible because Python can be run as a command line itself.

Type the following on the Windows, Mac or Linux command line:

Python Getting Started

Or, if the "python" command did not work, you can try "py":

Python Getting Started

From there you can write any python, including our hello world example from earlier in the tutorial:

Python Getting Started

Which will write "Hello, World!" in the command line:

Python Getting Started

Whenever you are done in the python command line, you can simply type the following to quit the python command line interface:

Python Getting Started
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