Python Tutorial: First Steps

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Python is a high-level programming language known for its simplicity and readability. It is widely used in web development, data science, automation, and artificial intelligence. This tutorial covers the essential steps to start programming in Python.

Setting Up the Environment

To write and run Python programs, you need to install Python. You can download the latest version from python.org.

Some common development environments include:

  • IDLE – Comes bundled with Python.
  • VS Code – A lightweight editor with Python extensions.
  • PyCharm – A feature-rich IDE for Python development.
  • Jupyter Notebook – Useful for data analysis and interactive coding.

Python can also be run directly from the command line or terminal.

Writing Your First Python Program

A simple Python program prints a message to the screen:

print("Hello, World!")

Running the Code

Save the file with a .py extension (e.g., program.py) and run it using:

python program.py

On some systems, you may need to use python3 instead of python.

Understanding the Code

  • print("Hello, World!") – Prints text to the console.

Python does not require semicolons or explicit type declarations, making it concise and easy to learn.

Basic Syntax and Concepts

Python uses indentation to define code blocks. Here are some fundamental elements:

Variables and Data Types

Python supports various data types:

age = 25
pi = 3.1416
grade = 'A'
is_student = True
name = "Alice"

Control Structures

Conditional statements and loops control program execution:

if age > 18:
    print("Adult")
else:
    print("Minor")

for i in range(5):
    print(i, end=" ")

Functions

Functions allow modular programming:

def add(a, b):
    return a + b

sum_result = add(3, 4)
print("Sum:", sum_result)

Next Steps

After mastering these basics, explore topics like object-oriented programming, file handling, and libraries such as NumPy and Pandas.

If you didn't find Python something of you interested, you may like some other programming languages like these!

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