2024 – 2025 Semester I

COMP1012 Programming Fundamentals and Applications

Lecture 01 (September 7, 2024)

Dynamic

HLL
Introduction to Python
Versatile
 Why do we need programming?

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 Whistle
(animals)

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 Calculators vs Programming Languages

5 x 10 ?
7315 x 2 ? The Prediction/Data Analysis:
Q.1. What will be the temperature on 11th Sep?

7615 x 987 ?
Q.2. Will it rain
Q.3. Can Python be on 11th Sep?
used as Calculator?

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 Why learn Python?

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 The History of Python
Who – Guido Van Rossum
between 1989 – 1991 at Centrum
Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI),
Netherlands.

Why – Guido
was watching
a show by name
Monty Python’s
Circus when
working on this
language and
thought why not
name it as Python.

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 Simple and
Easy to
Learn

Extensible
Platform
and
Independent
Embeddable

Portable and
Benefits of Python Robust

Free and Rich Library

Open Source Support

Interpreted
(bytecode-
compiled)

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 Applications of Python

137000 libraries
Python has a vast and continuously growing ecosystem of libraries. The total
numbers of Python are more than 137000 libraries. All these libraries are used
in machine learning, data science, data manipulation and visualization, and more.

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 COMP 1012 Slide 09
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 “Hello World” – Python vs Others
C Program Java Program Python Program

Fortran Program Pascal Program BASIC Program

program helloworld program HelloWorld(output); 10 PRINT "HELLO, WORLD!"
print *, "Hello, World!" begin
end program helloworld WriteLn('Hello, World!')
end.

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 Python Installation Options

Option A Option B Option C

Installation on your PolyU Labs: Online Python IDE:
personal laptop Room# M409
PyCharm | Jupyter | https://www.onlinegdb.com/
https://www.python.org/
Visual Studio
if own_notebook(student_id):
BYON()
# Bring Your Own Notebook
else:
option_C()
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 Python Installation – On Your Computer Option A

> Install Python on your computer. https://www.python.org/downloads/

• Newest stable version is 3.12.5.
• We cover standard Python features, so most versions 3.x would be sufficient.

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 Python Installation – Windows Option A

> Install as shown in the figure below

• Add Python.exe to PATH, so that you can use “python” in the terminal (just in case)

Step 2: Click Install Now

Step 1: Check all these options

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 Python Installation – Windows Option A

> Install as shown in the figure below

• Add Python.exe to PATH, so that you can use “python” in the terminal (just in case)

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 Python Installation – Windows Option A

> Now, we can use Python in the terminal

• Click “Start”, or Press “Win” on your keyboard
• Enter “cmd”↙ (for win 7~11) or “terminal”↘ (recommended for win 11) or “powershell”

This black window This black window

is called terminal / is called terminal /
command prompt command prompt

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 Python Installation – MacOS Option A

> Click the downloaded

installation package
• Press “Continue” or
“Agree” until “Install”

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 Python Installation – MacOS Option A

> Now, we can use Python in the terminal

• Press “Command+Space” ↓ or Click “LaunchPad”↗, enter “terminal”. Enter “python3” ↓.

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 Python Installation – MacOS Option A

> If you want to enter “python” instead of “python3”

• First exit the Python interpreter by typing “exit()”
• vim .zprofile (or vim .bash_profile, see which one do you have)
• Add “alias python=python3” and save (by pressing “esc” and typing :w (to save) and :q (to quit)).
• Reopen the terminal, now you can use “python” instead of “python3”

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 Congratulations,
Python Programmer!

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 Starting IDE / IDLE Option A

>You can find a few options once installing Python.

• IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment)
• Command line
• Doc
• Manual
>IDLE is an integrated development environment for Python.
• This is more preferred than command line, especially for beginners.
• Once started, you will see the standard Python prompt.
• You can try out Python there!

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 Using IDLE Option A

>After invoking IDLE, you can now test out Python

>Try these:
• Type 4+3-2*1
• Type 99*99
• Type 99**99
• Type 99**999
• Type print("Hello, World!")
• Type name = input("What is your name? ")
• Type print(name)
• Type print("My name is",name)
** means raising to the power –
Python is a very powerful calculator!

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 Programming in IDLE Option A

Your first Python program can be created

by using the editor within IDLE.
Under File, select New File. You will see a
new window for you to enter your Python
program.
Type your hello world or any other Python
program. Hint on syntax would be provided.

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 Programming in IDLE Option A

Save it by selecting Save As under File.

Let us save it on Desktop, and call it
demo.py, for example.
Note that all Python programs should be
stored with the extension .py.
To run the program, select Run Module
under Run, or just hit the function key
<F5> for simplicity.
You will see the output from the
program, i.e. Hello world.
You can modify the program and hit
<F5> to run the revised program.
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 Coding in Python terminals
looks cool but it is boring too,
isn’t it?

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 Running Python Online Option C

> Official platform to be used for assignment and project submission.

• There are so many versions of Python around. https://www.onlinegdb.com/
• A standard version is needed.
• You can use any Python platform in your future study in different subjects.

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 Running Python Online Option C

>You can see a sample program.

>Do you know what language is it?
It is in C.

>Change to Python (Python 3)

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 Running Python Online Option C

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 Running Python Online Option C

> What does this do?

Which
game is
this?

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 Running Python Online – Downloading Option C

May be downloaded
directly and stored
under system
Downloads folder

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 Running Python Online – Uploading Option C

Your program MUST be named

as main.py before upload.

The existing main.py program will

be replaced by your new main.py.

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 What will be in Lab 01?

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 Modules, Comments and pip
 A module is a file containing code written by somebody else
which can be imported and used in our programs
 Built in modules (pre-installed) like os, sys, etc, for import.
 External modules (need to be installed using pip)

 pip is the package manager for Python (e.g. pip install

numpy)
 Comments are used to write something which the programmer
does not want to execute
 Single line comments using #
 Multi-line comments using ''' some comment ''' or
""" other comment """
Is p1_game.py a module?

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 Every Python program you write and store in a .py file is a module. In Python, a

Function
module is simply a file containing Python code. This code can include functions, Will be
classes, variables, and runnable code. When you save your Python code in a .py discussed
file, it becomes a module that can be imported and used in other Python programs. in detailed
in Lec 10
Example: Consider you have a file named This file example.py is a module. You can import it into Module and 11
example.py with the following content: another Python script or module and use its functions:

Package

Library
Package is a collection of modules. That means, the package is a directory that
contains collection of modules and a collection of packages or sub-packages
Framework
Library is collection of packages and frameworks are collection of libraries

Slide 033
 Do we other IDE’s to install modules?
IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment
>Pycharm
>IDLE
>Jupyter Notebook
>VS Code

An IDE is like a well-equipped kitchen for a chef, providing all the necessary tools and facilities to efficiently create, test, and manage
software projects. Just as a chef uses various kitchen tools to prepare a meal, a programmer uses an IDE to develop software.

While you can write and run Python code using a text editor and the command prompt, an IDE offers a comprehensive set of tools and
features that can significantly improve your development workflow. From code editing and debugging to project management and
collaboration, an IDE provides a more efficient and productive environment for software development.

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 Installing VS Code on Windows
• Suppose that Python has been install on your Windows
• Download installation package (link)

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 Installing VS Code on Windows

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 After Installing VS Code
on Windows & MacOS

• Step 01 – Click on extensions

and download python extensions
• Step 02 – ctrl + n = To open the New file
• Step 03 – ctrl + s = To save the file (as name.py)
• Step 04 – Write the program in the file
• Step 05 – Run the program

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 Where is a Terminal in VirtualStudio?

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 How to know if I am outside
of a python environment ?

For windows users: If you see single > in your terminal this means For MacOs users: If you see single % in your terminal this means you
you are outside the python environment and you can install the packages are outside the python environment and you can install the packages

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 How to know if I am inside
of a python environment ?

For windows users: If you see this prompt >>> in your terminal this For MacOs users: If you see this prompt >>> in your terminal this
means you are inside the Python environment. means you are inside the Python environment.

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 Practice Set 1
Use IDLE / REPL (Read-Evaluate-Print-Loop) and print the table of 5 using it.

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 Practice Set 2

Write a program to print the

nursery rhyme “twinkle
twinkle little star” in Python

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky.

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 Solution 1
print(''' Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky. ''')

print("Twinkle, twinkle, little star, \n\tHow

Solution 2

I wonder what you are! \n\t\tUp above the

world so high \n\t\tLike a diamond in the
sky. \nTwinkle, twinkle, little star, \n\tHow
I wonder what you are!")

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 Installing packages
Step 1 Step 2
For installing packages or libraries first exit the
pip install package_name
Python environment by typing exit()
pip install pyttsx3
If you see this prompt >>> in your terminal this For Windows users
pip install pyjokes
means you are inside the Python environment. use this command

For windows users: If you see single > in your

terminal this means you are outside the python
environment and you can install the packages
pip3 install package_name
For MacOs users: If you see single % in your
For MacOs users pip3 install pyjokes
terminal this means you are outside the python use this command
environment and you can install the packages

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 Practice Set 3
Install an external module (say pyttsx3) and
use it to perform an operation of your interest.

import pyttsx3
engine = pyttsx3.init()
engine.say("Twinkle Twinkle Little Star")
For Windows users
use this program
engine.runAndWait()

from os import system

def my_text(text):
system("say {}".format(text))
For MacOs users
use this program text="twinkle twinkle little star"
my_text(text)

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 Joke Time! Installing modules using pip
Step 1: Open the terminal
Step 2: pip install pyjokes
Practice Set 4

Step 3: WAP to print a joke

import pyjokes
joke = pyjokes.get_joke()
print(joke)
What is the output of this program?
Will the output be same if you run this
program twice? Why and why not?
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 Joke Time! Installing modules using pip

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 Other Useful Tools
>Anaconda
• A python environment management tool
• Contain may packages and the useful IPython, jupyter notebook, and Spyder
• conda create -n ENV_NAME # create a virtual env named ENV_NAME
• conda activate ENV_NAME # activate the virtual env named ENV_NAME
• conda deactivate # deactivate
• conda install PACKAGE_NAME1 PACKAGE_NAME2 # install packages
• conda update PACKAGE_NAME1 PACKAGE_NAME2 # update a package
• conda list # show all install packages
• conda info -e # list all virtual environments in the computer
• Only for experts or semi-experts
https://www.anaconda.com/products/distribution

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 Installing Anaconda
> Download installation package (link)

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 Python vs Anaconda

Anaconda is the heaviest and biggest snake in the world

(and dangerous).
Python is the longest snake in the world (and can be a pet).
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 Q and A

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