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    Python Made Easy: A First Course in Computer Programming Using Python
    Python Made Easy: A First Course in Computer Programming Using Python
    Python Made Easy: A First Course in Computer Programming Using Python
    Ebook363 pages2 hours

    Python Made Easy: A First Course in Computer Programming Using Python

    By Kevin Wilson

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    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPackt Publishing
    Release dateAug 21, 2024
    ISBN9781836646143
    Python Made Easy: A First Course in Computer Programming Using Python
    Author

    Kevin Wilson

    Kevin Wilson is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels, including Now Is Not the Time to Panic, Nothing to See Here, and The Family Fang, as well as two story collections. His work has received the Shirley Jackson Award and been selected as a Read with Jenna book club pick. He lives in Sewanee, Tennessee, with his wife and two sons.

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      Book preview

      Python Made Easy - Kevin Wilson

      About the Author

      With over 20 years’ experience in the computer industry, Kevin Wilson has made a career out of technology and showing others how to use it. After earning a master’s degree in computer science, software engineering, and multimedia systems, Kevin has held various positions in the IT industry including graphic & web design, programming, building & managing corporate networks, and IT support.

      He serves as senior writer and director at Elluminet Press Ltd, he periodically teaches computer science at college, and works as an IT trainer in England while researching for his PhD. His books have become a valuable resource among the students in England, South Africa, Canada, and in the United States.

      Kevin’s motto is clear: If you can’t explain something simply, then you haven’t understood it well enough. To that end, he has created the Exploring Tech Computing series, in which he breaks down complex technological subjects into smaller, easy-to-follow steps that students and ordinary computer users can put into practice.

      Acknowledgements

      Thanks to all the staff at Luminescent Media & Elluminet Press for their passion, dedication and hard work in the preparation and production of this book.

      To all my friends and family for their continued support and encouragement in all my writing projects.

      To all my colleagues, students and testers who took the time to test procedures and offer feedback on the book

      Finally thanks to you the reader for choosing this book. I hope it helps you gain a better understanding of Python Programming.

      Have fun!

      Getting Started

      The aim of this book is to provide a first course in the use of a methodical and effective approach to the development of computer programs using the Python Programming Language.

      Chapters have been deliberately kept short with a learn by doing approach. Along the way, you’ll find various video tutorials and demonstrations you can access using the various links throughout the book.

      Chapter by chapter, we’ll explore the ins and outs of Python with illustrations, worked examples, lab exercises and projects for you to complete yourself. For this purpose, we’ve included all the source code for this book in the following repository:

      elluminetpress.com/python2

      Have Fun!

      What is Python

      Python is a high-level programming language created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991. The name Python was inspired by Guido’s love for the British comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

      Python emphasizes code readability and aims to provide a clear and concise syntax, making it easier for programmers to express concepts and ideas in fewer lines of code compared to other programming languages. There is also a comprehensive library that provides a wide range of built in modules and functions for common programming tasks. This philosophy encourages the reuse of existing code and reduces the need for developers to rely heavily on third-party libraries for basic functionalities. Over the years, Python has attracted a large community of developers who contribute to its extensive ecosystem of third-party libraries and frameworks, further expanding its capabilities.

      Python is designed to be a versatile language and is widely used in web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, and automation.

      Installing Python

      In this section, we’ll take a look at how to install the python interpreter and development environment.

      Python has multiple versions available, such as Python 2.x and Python 3.x. It is recommended to install the latest stable version, which is Python 3.x. Python 2.x is no longer actively supported, and most new projects and libraries are designed for Python 3.x.

      You can install python on Windows, Mac, or linux.

      Install on Windows

      In our lab, we’re using windows workstations, so we’ll need to install the Python Development Environment for Windows.

      Open your web browser and navigate to the following website:

      www.python.org/downloads/windows

      From the downloads page, select the ‘executable installer’ of latest stable release.

      Click ‘run’ when prompted by your browser. Or click ‘python-x.x.x-amd64.exe’ if you’re using Chrome.

      Once the installer starts, make sure ‘add python 3.x to path’ is selected, then click ‘customize installation’ to run through the steps to complete the installation.

      Make sure you select all the tick boxes for all the optional features. Click ‘next’.

      Make sure ‘install for all users’ is selected at the top of the dialog box. Click ‘install’ to begin.

      Click ‘disable path length limit’ to make sure Python runs smoothly on Windows and allow long file names.

      Click ‘close’ to finish the installation.

      You’ll find the Python Development Environment (IDLE) and the Python interpreter, in the Python folder on your start menu.

      Install on MacOS

      To install Python 3 with the Official Installer, open your web browser and navigate to the following website

      www.python.org/downloads/macos

      Click download python.

      You’ll find the package in your downloads folder. Double click on the package to begin the installation

      Run through the installation wizard. Click ‘continue’.

      Once the installation is complete, you’ll find python in the applications folder in finder, or on the launch pad.

      Install on Linux

      If you are running a linux distribution such as Ubuntu or have a Raspberry Pi, you can install python using the terminal. You’ll find the terminal app in your applications. You can also press Control Alt T on your keyboard.

      At the terminal command prompt, type the following commands. Press enter after each line.

      sudo apt update

      sudo apt upgrade

      Type the following command to install Python.

      sudo apt install python3 -y

      Once the Python is installed, we need to install IDLE, the development environment. To do this, type the following command at the prompt

      sudo apt-get install idle3 -y

      Once installed, you’ll find IDLE in your applications.

      Or you can type the following command at the prompt

      idle

      Setting up a Development Environment

      A good development environment enhances productivity by providing features such as code editing, debugging, and testing capabilities.

      There are several code editors and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) available for Python programming. Once you have installed the python interpreter as discussed above, you should install a code editor or IDE. What you choose is personal preference and depends on the specific requirements of your project.

      Try a few difference ones until you find the one that suits your needs the best.

      Code Editor vs IDE

      A code editor is a lightweight tool focused primarily on editing code. It provides features such as syntax highlighting, code completion, and basic code formatting. Some popular code editors are Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text.

      An IDE is a comprehensive software suite that combines a code editor with additional tools and features specifically designed for software development. In addition to code editing capabilities, IDEs typically provide features like debugging, code refactoring, project management, and version control integration. Examples of popular IDEs include PyCharm, IDLE and

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