# Basics of Python Programming: Study Guide
*Author: Generated for Scribd Upload (Original Content)*
*Date: September 9, 2025*
## Introduction
This study guide is designed for beginners learning Python, a versatile programming
language used in web development, data science, and automation. These notes
summarize key concepts for introductory programming courses.
## Getting Started
- **Installation**: Download Python from https://www.python.org. Use an IDE like VS
Code or PyCharm.
- **Running Code**: Use the terminal (`python script.py`) or an interactive shell
(e.g., Jupyter Notebook).
## Core Concepts
1. **Variables and Data Types**:
- Numeric: `int` (e.g., `x = 5`), `float` (e.g., `y = 3.14`).
- Strings: `str` (e.g., `name = "Alice"`).
- Lists: `list` (e.g., `numbers = [1, 2, 3]`).
- Example:
```
age = 25
name = "Bob"
print(f"{name} is {age} years old")
```
2. **Control Structures**:
- Conditionals: `if`, `elif`, `else`.
```
if age >= 18:
print("Adult")
else:
print("Minor")
```
- Loops: `for` and `while`.
```
for i in range(5):
print(i) # Outputs 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
```
3. **Functions**:
- Define with `def`:
```
def greet(name):
return f"Hello, {name}!"
print(greet("Alice")) # Outputs: Hello, Alice!
```
## Practical Tips
- **Debugging**: Use `print()` to check variable values or try a debugger in your
IDE.
- **Libraries**: Install with `pip` (e.g., `pip install numpy` for numerical
computations).
- **Practice**: Solve problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.
## Common Mistakes
- Forgetting colons (`:`) after `if`, `for`, or `def`.
- Incorrect indentation (Python uses 4 spaces or 1 tab).
- Case sensitivity (e.g., `Name` ≠ `name`).
## Resources
- Official Python Tutorial: https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/
- "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" by Al Sweigart.
*This document is original content created for educational purposes and Scribd
upload. Not for commercial use.*
