Python for Everybody

Books
1. Charles R. Severance, “Python for Everybody: Exploring
Data Using Python 3”, 1st Edition, CreateSpace
Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
(http://do1.drchuck.com/pythonlearn/EN_us/pythonlearn.p
df) (Chapters 1 – 13, 15)

2. Allen B. Downey, "Think Python: How to Think Like a

Computer Scientist”, 2nd Edition, Green Tea Press, 2015.
(http://greenteapress.com/thinkpython2/thinkpython2.pdf )
(Chapters 15, 16, 17)
 Users vs. Programmers
• Users see computers as a set of tools - word processor, spreadsheet, map,
to-do list, etc.

• Programmers learn the computer “ways” and the computer language

• Programmers have some tools that allow them to build new tools

• Programmers sometimes write tools for lots of users and sometimes

programmers write little “helpers” for themselves to automate a task
Hardware Architecture
 Generic
Software What
Next? Computer
Input Central
and Output Processing
Devices Unit
Secondary
Memory

Main
Memory
 Definitions
• Central Processing Unit: Runs the Program - The CPU is always wondering
“what to do next”. Not the brains exactly - very dumb but very very fast

• Input Devices: Keyboard, Mouse, Touch Screen

• Output Devices: Screen, Speakers, Printer, DVD Burner

• Main Memory: Fast small temporary storage - lost on reboot - aka RAM

• Secondary Memory: Slower large permanent storage - lasts until deleted - disk
drive / memory stick
 Generic
Software What
Next? Computer
Input Central
and Output Processing
Devices Unit
Secondary
if x< 3: print Memory

Main
Memory
Python as a Language
 Early Learner: Syntax Errors
• We need to learn the Python language so we can communicate our instructions to
Python. In the beginning we will make lots of mistakes.

• When you make a mistake, the computer does not think you are “cute”. It says
“syntax error” - given that it knows the language and you are just learning it. It
seems like Python is cruel and unfeeling.

• You must remember that you are intelligent and can learn. The computer is
simple and very fast, but cannot learn. So it is easier for you to learn Python than
for the computer to learn English...
 Reserved Words
You cannot use reserved words as variable names / identifiers
Talking to Python
csev$ python3
Python 3.5.1 (v3.5.1:37a07cee5969, Dec 5 2015, 21:12:44)
[GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5666) (dot 3)] on darwinType
"help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>
What
next?
csev$ python3
Python 3.5.1 (v3.5.1:37a07cee5969, Dec 5 2015, 21:12:44)
[GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5666) (dot 3)] on darwinType
"help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> x = 1
>>> print(x)
1
>>> x = x + 1 This is a good test to make sure that you have
>>> print(x) Python correctly installed. Note that quit() also
2 works to end the interactive session.
>>> exit()
 Sentences or Lines

x = 2 Assignment statement
x = x + 2 Assignment with expression
print(x) Print statement

Variable Operator Constant Function

Programming Paragraphs
 Interactive versus Script
• Interactive

- You type directly to Python one line at a time and it responds

• Script

- You enter a sequence of statements (lines) into a file using a text

editor and tell Python to execute the statements in the file
 Python Scripts
• Interactive Python is good for experiments and programs of 3-4 lines
long.

• Most programs are much longer, so we type them into a file and tell
Python to run the commands in the file.

• In a sense, we are “giving Python a script”.

• As a convention, we add “.py” as the suffix on the end of these files to

indicate they contain Python.
Program Steps or Program Flow
• Like a recipe or installation instructions, a program is a sequence of
steps to be done in order.

• Some steps are conditional - they may be skipped.

• Sometimes a step or group of steps is to be repeated.

• Sometimes we store a set of steps to be used over and over as

needed several places throughout the program (Chapter 4).
 Sequential Steps
x=2 Program:
Output:
print(x) x = 2
print(x) 2
x=x+2 x = x + 2 4
print(x)
print(x)

When a program is running, it flows from one step to the next. As

programmers, we set up “paths” for the program to follow.
 x=5
Conditional Steps
Yes
x < 10 ?

print('Smaller') Program:
No Output:
x = 5
Yes if x < 10: Smaller
x > 20 ? print('Smaller') Finis
if x > 20:
print('Bigger') print('Bigger')
No
print('Finis')

print('Finis')
 n=5 Repeated Steps
No Yes Output:
n>0? Program:
5
print(n) n = 5 4
while n > 0 :
print(n)
3
n = n -1 n = n – 1 2
print('Blastoff!') 1
Blastoff!
Loops (repeated steps) have iteration variables that
print('Blastoff')
change each time through a loop.
Variables, expressions, and statements

Variables, expressions, and

statements