Introduction to Python

Python Fundamentals

Name of presenter
Date

© 2020, Amazon Web Services, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Welcome to Introduction to Python.

Introduction to Python
 What you will learn

At the core of the lesson

You will learn how to:
• Explain what Python is
• List reasons for using Python
• List examples of programs that can be used to write Python code
• Compare Python to shell scripting
• Recognize the purpose of AWS Lambda

In this module, you will learn how to:

• Explain what Python is

• List reasons for using Python
• List examples of programs that can be used to write Python code
• Compare Python to shell scripting
• Introduction to AWS Lambda
 What is Python?

Python is a free, easy-to-learn, general-purpose programming language.

4
 Why Python?

The interpreter Dynamic typing

enables fast makes it easy to
exploratory write quick
programming. scripts.

Python can
support object-
Python syntax is
oriented,
simple when it is
structural, and
compared to
functional
other languages.
programming
styles.

5
 Why Python? continued

Another reason to use Python is that it works across platforms. It works on macOS, Linux, Microsoft
Windows, and other platforms.

Though Bash scripts can be powerful, they mostly run on GNU/Linux.

GNU/Linux

6
 Where can you write Python?

Python can be written in any text editor if you have the interpreter also installed. Many developers use
special programs that are called integrated development environments (IDEs). IDEs help with finding
syntax and exception errors.
Some examples of programs that are used to write Python code include:

Microsoft
Python(x,y AWS Cloud9 Visual Studio Eclipse
) Code

Notepad++ Spyder PyCharm Vim

7
 Integrated development environment

The following core capabilities are associated with IDEs:

• Syntax highlighting – Highlights keywords within the programming language
• Code completion – Similar to automatic completion for natural languages on modern cellular
phones
• Debugging – Enables line-by-line inspection of the code while it is running with breakpoint
capabilities
• Version control – Integrates popular version control systems, such as git and subversion

8
 Using an IDE: Syntax highlighting

• Declaration of functions, classes, and imports

have similar color.
• Comments are colored green.
• All syntax highlighting is customizable.

Note: The screen capture uses AWS Cloud9 as the IDE.

9
 Using an IDE: Code completion

• Functions are portrayed differently in a

selection.
• Functions include arguments that are
available.

Note: The screen capture uses AWS Cloud9 as the IDE.

10
 Using an IDE: Debugging

• Step through code line by line.

• Inspect variables as you step.
• Change values as you inspect.

Note: The screen capture uses AWS Cloud9 as

the IDE.

11
 AWS Cloud9: Cloud-based IDE

Start projects quickly and Code together in real time. Build serverless
code with only a browser. applications with ease.

12

AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based IDE that lets you write, run, and debug your code with a
browser. It combines the rich code editing features of an IDE with access to a full
Linux server for running and storing code. Some of the editing features include code
completion, hinting, and step-through debugging.
AWS Cloud9 provides a few key benefits:
• Start projects quickly and code with only a web browser. All that you need is an
AWS account. You can log into the AWS Management Console, create an AWS
Cloud9 environment, and start using it in your browser.
• Code together in real time. For example, you don’t need to commit your changes
to Git and then ask a colleague to look at the changes on their machine. AWS
Cloud9 enables you to code together in real time through the AWS Cloud9
interface. AWS Cloud9 provides real-time feedback so you can see what your
colleague is typing as they are typing it and give them feedback.
• Build serverless applications with ease. For example, you can edit and debug AWS
Lambda functions locally. You don’t need to upload your code to the Lambda
console for testing and debugging.
For more information about AWS Cloud9, see the product page: AWS Cloud9
 AWS Cloud9 development, runtime, and version control
Development Runtime Version control
environment environment system

Amazon Elastic Compute AWS CodeCommit

Your computer Cloud (Amazon EC2) + repository
AWS Cloud9 environment
+ OR OR

Your server + Other remote

AWS Cloud9 AWS Cloud9 environment repository type
13
 AWS Cloud9 features

• Live syntax checking

• Automatic
indentation
• Automatic
completion
• Code folding
• Split panes
• Version control
integration
• Multiple cursors
and selections

14
 AWS Cloud9: One IDE, many languages

15

With AWS Cloud9, you can use many runtime environments that enable you to build
and run your code.
 Running Python applications

After you finish writing an application in Python, you can:

• Run the application from the command line: $python myPythonapp.py
• Run it from inside the IDE

However, what if you must run your code or application? For example:
1. Make it available to users around the world
2. Handle millions of users

16
 AWS Lambda

• Upload your code to AWS Lambda.

• Set up your code to trigger from an event, such as a user
who is visiting your webpage.
• Lambda runs your code only when it is triggered, and it
uses only the compute resources that are needed.
• You pay only for the compute time that you use.
• Multiple languages are supported.
• AWS Cloud9 is included in the Lambda interface, so you can
share code with developers.

17

AWS Lambda offers several benefits:

• You have no servers to manage. You pay only for the compute time that you use,
with continuous scaling. With sub-second metering, you do not pay for compute
time when your code is not running. AWS Lambda works well for variable and
intermittent workloads.
• You can run code for virtually any application or backend service, with almost no
administration—including server and operating system maintenance.
• You can set up your code to automatically trigger from other AWS services, or you
can call it directly from any web or mobile application.
Lambda supports various different programming languages, including Go, Node.js,
Java, C#, and Python.
 AWS Lambda example

Users capture an The mobile app A Lambda function Amazon Rekognition

image for their uploads the new is triggered and retrieves the image
property listing. image to Amazon calls Amazon from Amazon S3 and
Simple Storage Rekognition. returns labels for the
Service (Amazon S3). detected property.

You will learn more about AWS Lambda later in the course.

18

This example illustrates the use of Lambda for an image recognition application, and
demonstrates how it works.

First, the users capture an image for their property by using an app on their mobile
phone. The mobile app then uploads the new image to Amazon Simple Storage
Service (Amazon S3). Adding this image to Amazon S3 triggers a Lambda function and
calls Amazon Rekognition. Amazon Rekognition can identify objects, people, text,
scenes, and activities. It provides highly accurate facial analysis and recognition.
Lambda retrieves the image from Amazon S3 and returns labels for the property and
its amenities.

This is just one example of a Lambda use case. With Lambda, you can run code for
virtually any application or backend service. Other Lambda use cases include:
• Automated backups
• Processing objects that are uploaded to Amazon S3
• Event-driven log analysis
• Event-driven transformations
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Operating serverless websites
 Other tools: Shell scripting

Shell scripting commands are run directly from the command line of an operating system. They are
available on any machine and on any operating system without the need to install new software.
Different environments require different syntax or types of shell scripting, such as Bash and Zshell.

zs
19
h
Bash logo – Copyright Free Software Foundation, licensed under the Free Art License. Designed by ProspectOne. Available at the Official GNU Bash Logo GitHub page.
 Shell scripting versus Python

• Shell scripting can be a powerful tool for system administration and command-line work, but it can
be challenging when you want to use more complicated data structures.
• For example: Python can perform some actions—such as creating an HTTP server—in a single line.
However, it could require many lines of code to do the same action in Bash.
• Python has many external libraries and resources. It is a complete programming language.

Bash logo – Copyright Free Software Foundation, licensed under the Free Art License. Designed by ProspectOne. Available at the Official GNU Bash Logo GitHub page.

20
 Checkpoint questions

Does Python use an interpreter or a compiler?

What is a use case for shell scripting?

True or false: Python is only a functional programming language.

What does the acronym IDE stand for?

Name at least two different IDEs that you can use to write Python code.

21

Answers:
1. Python uses an interpreter
2. Some examples of uses for shell scripts are:
• Alerting a system administrator about low disk space
• Moving log files into an archive directory
3. False
4. Integrated Development Environment
5. Eclipse, PyCharm, Spyder, Notepad++, others
 • Python is a free, general-purpose programming
Key takeaways language. It has a simpler syntax compared to other
programming languages.
• Python can be written in any text editor if the
interpreter is also installed.
• An integrated development environment (IDE)
provides several advantages for writing code.
• Shell scripting is a powerful tool for administration.
When administration becomes complicated, Python
is generally preferred for such tasks.

© 2020, Amazon Web Services, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

22

Some key takeaways from this lesson include:

• Python is a free, general-purpose programming language. It has a simpler syntax

compared to other programming languages.

• Python can be written in any text editor if the interpreter is also installed.

• An integrated development environment (IDE) provides several advantages for

writing code.

• Shell scripting is a powerful tool for administration. When administration becomes

complicated, Python is generally preferred for such tasks.