Python Course
Python Course
By:
What is Python?
History
Python was created by Guido van Rossum, a Dutch programmer, and was first
released in 1991. Here's a brief overview of the history of Python:
In the late 1980s, Guido van Rossum worked at the National Research Institute for
Mathematics and Computer Science in the Netherlands.
Guido aimed to create a language that was easy to read, write, and understand, with
a focus on code readability and simplicity.
Python gained attention and started to be used in various academic and scientific
communities.
As Python evolved, some decisions made in the early days became limitations,
particularly related to Unicode and byte strings.
In 2008, Python 3.0 (also known as Python 3.x) was released, introducing
significant changes and improvements to the language.
Python 3.x aimed to clean up the language, remove redundancy, and provide better
support for Unicode and modern programming practices.
However, Python 3.x was not backward compatible with the earlier Python 2.x
versions, causing a division in the Python community.
Despite the initial challenges with the Python 2.x and 3.x split, Python's popularity
continued to grow.
The Python Package Index (PyPI) became a central repository for third-party
libraries, enabling easy installation and sharing of code.
Python became one of the most widely used programming languages, embraced by
developers and adopted by organizations worldwide.
Recent Developments:
Python continues to evolve with regular releases. The most recent major version at
the time of my knowledge cutoff is Python 3.9 (released in October 2020).
What is Python?
Simplicity: Python aims to provide simplicity and ease of use, allowing developers
to express concepts in fewer lines of code compared to other languages.
Versatility: Python is a versatile language that can be used for various applications,
such as web development, data analysis, scientific computing, artificial
intelligence, machine learning, and more.
Large Standard Library: Python comes with a comprehensive standard library that
provides numerous modules and functions to perform various tasks, ranging from
file I/O to networking and web development.
Python's popularity has been growing rapidly due to its simplicity, versatility, and
the extensive support of its community. It has become one of the most widely used
languages for a wide range of applications, from scripting small tasks to
developing complex software systems.
Applications of Python?
Python web frameworks like Django and Flask are widely used for building
scalable and secure web applications.
Python's ease of use and rich libraries make it suitable for tasks such as server-side
scripting, handling APIs, and web scraping.
Python libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib provide powerful tools for
data manipulation, analysis, and visualization.
Python is often used in data science workflows and can handle large datasets
efficiently.
Python's simplicity and extensive libraries make it suitable for tasks like natural
language processing, computer vision, and deep learning.
Scientific Computing:
Python, along with libraries like SciPy and NumPy, is widely used in scientific
computing, numerical simulations, and mathematical modeling.
Python's ability to integrate with lower-level languages like C and Fortran allows
for high-performance computing.
Python can interact with operating system APIs and perform tasks like file
manipulation, process automation, and network automation.
Its simplicity and support for microcontrollers make it suitable for prototyping,
sensor data analysis, and device communication.
Game Development:
Python's simplicity and libraries for graphics and multimedia make it a popular
choice for building 2D games.
Desktop Applications:
Python, along with frameworks like PyQt and Tkinter, can be used for developing
cross-platform desktop applications with graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
Python is used for tasks related to system administration, automation, and DevOps
workflows.
Python is widely used in academic research and scientific communities due to its
extensive libraries and ease of use.
These are just a few examples of how Python is applied across different fields.
Python's versatility and large community ensure that it continues to find new
applications and use cases in various domains.
Install Python: Download and install the latest version of Python from the official
Python website (python.org).
Python Syntax:
Print Statements: Use the print() function to display output on the console.
Comments: Add comments to your code using the # symbol to make it more
readable.
Strings: Understand string data type, string manipulation, and string formatting.
Dictionaries: Understand key-value pairs and how dictionaries are used to store
and retrieve data.
Conditional Statements: Use if, elif, and else to make decisions based on
conditions.
Loops: Learn about for and while loops for iterative tasks.
Functions:
Defining Functions: Create your own functions to modularize code and reuse it.
User Input: Use the input() function to receive user input during program
execution.
File Input and Output: Learn how to read from and write to files using Python.
Exceptions: Understand how to handle errors and exceptions using try, except, and
finally blocks.
Importing Modules: Learn how to import and use pre-built Python modules.
Standard Library: Explore commonly used modules such as math, random, and
datetime.
Basic Concepts:
Type Conversion: Convert data between different types using type casting.
Apply the concepts learned through small coding exercises and projects.
Challenge yourself with simple tasks like calculating a sum, reversing a string, or
building a basic calculator.
Arithmetic Operators:
Subtraction: - (e.g., a - b)
Multiplication: * (e.g., a * b)
Division: / (e.g., a / b)
Assignment Operators:
Assignment: = (e.g., x = 5)
Comparison Operators:
Logical Operators:
Membership Operators:
not in: Returns True if a value is not found in a sequence (e.g., x not in myList)
Identity Operators:
is: Returns True if two variables refer to the same object (e.g., x is y)
is not: Returns True if two variables do not refer to the same object (e.g., x is not y)
Bitwise Operators:
In Python, you can create variables to store and manipulate data. Here are some
examples of basic variable types in Python:
age = 25
quantity = 10
pi = 3.14
price = 9.99
name = "PASS"
is_valid = True
has_permission = False
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Tuple: Similar to lists, but they are immutable (cannot be modified after creation).
result = None
In Python, there are several built-in functions that provide useful functionality for
various tasks. Here are some of the basic functions frequently used in Python:
print("Hello, World!")
text = "Hello"
value = 5
int(), float(), str(), bool(): Convert values to integer, float, string, or boolean types,
respectively.
num_str = "10"
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
value = -10
value = 3.14159
numbers = [5, 3, 1, 4, 2]
These are just a few examples of the basic built-in functions available in
Python. Python provides a rich standard library with numerous functions for
performing a wide range of tasks. Additionally, there are many external
libraries and modules that offer additional functions to further extend
Python's capabilities.
Type python or python3 (depending on your Python version) to start the Python
interpreter.
Once you see the Python prompt (>>>), you can enter Python code line by line and
press Enter to execute each line.
Create a new file with a .py extension using a text editor or an Integrated
Development Environment (IDE).
Write your Python code in the file.
Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to the directory where the
Python file is located.
Type python or python3 (depending on your Python version) followed by the name
of the Python file, and press Enter.
Python will execute the code in the file, and any output or results will be displayed
in the terminal or command prompt.
Open your preferred Python IDE, such as PyCharm, Visual Studio Code, or
IDLE.
Create a new Python file.
Use the IDE's built-in run or execute command, often indicated by a play button
icon or a keyboard shortcut, to run the code.
The IDE will execute the code and display the output or results in the IDE's output
window or console.
Regardless of the method you choose, make sure you have Python installed on
your computer. You can check if Python is properly installed by running python
--version or python3 --version in the terminal or command prompt.
Remember to save your Python code with the .py extension and ensure that the file
is located in the correct directory or specify the file path when executing it.
As you become more comfortable with Python, you can explore additional features
of your chosen IDE or text editor to enhance your development experience, such as
debugging, code completion, and integrated terminal support.
Python Projects :
- Simple Calculator
- To-Do List Manager
- Make Your Own for Practice
Description:
Create a simple calculator program that performs basic arithmetic operations such
as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The program should prompt
Example Output:
Select an operation:
1. Addition
2. Subtraction
3. Multiplication
4. Division
Implementation Steps:
print()
print()
print("Select an operation:")
print("1. Addition")
print("2. Subtraction")
print("3. Multiplication")
print("4. Division")
print()
result = 0
if choice == 1:
elif choice == 3:
elif choice == 4:
print()
Description:
Create a simple to-do list manager that allows users to add, view, and delete tasks.
The program should provide a menu-based interface where users can choose
various options to interact with their to-do list. The tasks can be stored in memory
or saved to a file for persistence.
Example Output:
1. Add a task
3. Delete a task
4. Quit
1. Add a task
3. Delete a task
4. Quit
Tasks:
1. Buy groceries
1. Add a task
3. Delete a task
4. Quit
1. Add a task
3. Delete a task
4. Quit
Goodbye!
Implementation Steps:
Continuously prompt the user for their choice until they choose to quit.
Iterate over the list of tasks and display them with their corresponding
numbers.
Prompt the user to enter the number of the task they want to delete.
Option 4: Quit
Validate user inputs, handle errors, and provide appropriate feedback for
invalid inputs.
tasks = []
while True:
print("4. Quit\n")
if choice == "1":
tasks.append(task_description)
if len(tasks) == 0:
else:
print("Tasks:")
print(f"{index}. {task}")
print()
if len(tasks) == 0:
else:
deleted_task = tasks.pop(task_number - 1)
else:
print("Goodbye!")
break
else:
Don't Stop Until You Have Done Completely and Truly (Taimoor Hassan)