Introduction to Python

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity and readability. It was created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991. Python’s design philosophy emphasizes code readability with its notable use of significant whitespace.

What is Python?

Python is a versatile, easy-to-learn programming language with a clean, readable syntax. It’s widely used for web development, data science, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, and more.

Why Python?

• Readability: Python’s syntax is designed to be readable and straightforward
• Versatility: Python can be used for almost any programming task
• Large Ecosystem: Extensive libraries and frameworks for various applications
• Community Support: Active community and abundant resources for learning
• Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and more

Getting Started with Python

To start programming in Python, you need to:

1. Install Python from python.org
2. Verify the installation by running python --version in your terminal
3. Write your first Python program

Here’s a simple “Hello, World!” program in Python:

print("Hello, World!")

Python Development Tools

• IDLE: Python’s built-in IDE
• VS Code: Popular code editor with Python extensions
• PyCharm: Full-featured Python IDE
• Jupyter Notebooks: Interactive environment for data science

Basic Python Concepts

Variables and Data Types

# Numbers
x = 10          # Integer
y = 3.14        # Float
z = 1 + 2j      # Complex

# Strings
name = "Python"

# Lists
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

# Dictionaries
person = {"name": "John", "age": 30}

Control Structures

# If statement
if x > 5:
    print("x is greater than 5")
else:
    print("x is less than or equal to 5")

# For loop
for fruit in fruits:
    print(fruit)

# While loop
count = 0
while count < 5:
    print(count)
    count += 1

Next Steps

In the next sections, we’ll cover:

• Functions and Modules
• Object-Oriented Programming
• File Handling
• Error Handling
• Working with Libraries
• Data Structures and Algorithms