Itse1359-1010-getting started

Table of contents

• Preface
  • What you will learn
    • Beginners
    • Programmers
    • Python programmers
  • Windows would be handy
  • Practice, practice, and more practice
  • Viewing tip
    • Figures
• Why use Python?
  • What is Python?
  • More facts, less hype
    • Learn OOP without the details
    • A beginner-friendly language
    • Sneaking up on OOP
    • Python has an interactive mode
    • Python has a non-interactive mode
    • Python combines interactive and non-interactive modes
    • Small core, large library
• Let's Write a Program
  • Getting ready
    • Download and install the software
    • Starting the programming environment
    • Enough talk -- let's begin
    • What do you see?
    • The python manuals
    • The library reference
    • IDLE (Python GUI)
    • What does it look like?
    • What is a GUI?
    • The Python (command line) selection
    • The command-line window
  • Your first (interactive) Python program
    • Hello World in Python
    • The Python prompt>>>
    • Let's do it
    • Congratulations
    • Python is ready for more
• Miscellaneous

Preface

This module is one in a collection of modules on Python designed for teaching ITSE 1359 Introduction to Scripting Languages: Python at Austin Community College in Austin, TX.

What you will learn

There is something for just about everyone here. Beginners start at the beginning, and experienced programmers jump in further on. You simply need toenter the collection of modules at the point that best fits your prior programming knowledge.

Beginners

The official prerequisite for this course is "One semester of programming or departmental approval." However, if you don't know anything about programming, these modules will help you to overcome that deficiency by taking you fromground zero to object-oriented computer programming using Python.

Programmers

If you already know how to program in some other language, these modules will teach you how to program using the Python scripting language.

Python programmers

If you already know how to program using Python, you can probably skip the modules in the "Language Fundamentals" section.

Windows would be handy

Although not absolutely necessary, it would be very handy for you to have access to, and know how to use Microsoft Windows. The programming skills thatyou will learn are applicable to a broad range of operating systems. However, I will use Microsoft Windows as my teaching platform, so youwill need to be able to follow instructions explained in Windows jargon.

Practice, practice, and more practice

I am going to provide you with a lot of information, but you will also need to put your brain in gear and write a lot of programs to retain the information. Very few people become expert musicians without a lot ofpractice. Similarly, very few people become expert programmers without a lot of practice.

So, if you want to learn to program, plan to spend a lot of time in front of your computer, not just reading, but programming as well.

Viewing tip

I recommend that you open another copy of this module in a separate browser window and use the following links to easily find and view the Figures while you are reading about them.