1.1: Installing Python

Python is a popular high-level programming language that is widely used for various applications, from web development to data analysis. To get started with Python, the first step is to install it on your computer.

To install Python, follow these steps:

1. Go to the official Python website at https://www.python.org/.
2. Hover over the "Downloads" menu and select the version of Python that corresponds to your operating system.
3. Download the latest version of Python and run the installer.
4. Make sure to select the option to add Python to your PATH during installation. This will allow you to run Python from the command line or terminal.
5. Once the installation is complete, open a command prompt or terminal window and type python --version to verify that Python is installed correctly.

Summary: In this section, we learned how to download and install the latest version of Python on our operating system. This is the first step in setting up our Python development environment.

1.2: Installing an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

While it is possible to write and run Python code using a simple text editor, using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) can make the development process easier and more efficient. An IDE is a software application that provides a range of features for writing, debugging, and running code, including syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging tools.

There are several popular IDEs for Python development, including:

• PyCharm: A powerful and feature-rich IDE that is popular among professional developers.
• Jupyter Notebook: A web-based IDE that is popular for data analysis and scientific computing.
• IDLE: The default IDE that is included with the Python installation.

To install an IDE, follow the instructions provided by the IDE's documentation.

Summary: In this section, we explored various IDE options for Python development and learned how to install and set up our preferred IDE.

1.3: Understanding the Python File Structure

When working on a Python project, it is important to understand the basic file structure of the project. A typical Python project consists of directories, modules, and packages.

• Directories: Directories are used to organize related files and modules.
• Modules: Modules are Python files that contain code and functions.
• Packages: Packages are directories that contain modules and sub-packages.

Here is an example file structure for a Python project:

my_project/
    __init__.py
    module1.py
    module2.py
    package1/
        __init__.py
        module3.py
        module4.py
    package2/
        __init__.py
        module5.py
        module6.py

In this example, my_project is the top-level directory for the project. It contains an __init__.py file, which marks the directory as a package, as well as two modules (module1.py and module2.py) and two packages (package1 and package2). Each package contains its own __init__.py file, as well as additional modules and sub-packages.

Summary: In this section, we learned about the basic file structure of a Python project, including the use of directories, modules, and packages.

1.4: Writing and Saving Your First Python Script

Now that we have our Python development environment set up, it's time to write and save our first Python script.

To create a new Python script, follow these steps:

1. Open your preferred IDE.
2. Create a new file.
3. Add the following code to the file:

print("Hello, world!")

4. Save the file with a .py extension, such as hello_world.py.

To run the script, follow these steps:

1. Open a command prompt or terminal window.
2. Navigate to the directory where the script is saved.
3. Type python hello_world.py and press Enter.

You should see the following output:

Hello, world!

Summary: In this section, we learned how to create and save a Python script using our chosen IDE, and we were introduced to the basic syntax and structure of a Python program.