Introduction to Python

What is Python?

Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language created by Guido van Rossum. It was first released in 1991. Python's design philosophy emphasizes code readability with its notable use of significant whitespace. It allows developers to express concepts in fewer lines of code than might be possible in languages such as C++ or Java.

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Why Choose Python?

• Ease of Learning and Use: Python has a simple and readable syntax which reduces the cost of program maintenance. It's a great language for beginners due to its readability and simple setup process.

• Community Support: Python has a large and active community which contributes to a vast selection of libraries and frameworks, making the development process faster and easier.

• Versatile: It's a flexible language that is capable of handling a variety of programming tasks such as web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, etc.

• Employability: Python is highly in-demand in the job market, especially in growing fields like data science and machine learning.

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Installing Python

1. Download Python:

   • Go to the Python official website.

   • Click on the download link for the latest version of Python.

2. Install Python:

   • Run the downloaded file.

   • Ensure that you check the box that says "Add Python x.x to PATH" before you click "Install Now".

3. Verify Installation:

   • Open a command prompt or terminal.

   • Type python --version and press Enter. You should see the version of Python that you installed.

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Your First Python Program

1. Open IDLE:

   • Search for IDLE, which is the Python IDE installed with Python, and open it.

2. Create a New File:

   • Go to File > New File.

3. Write Your Program:

   • In the new window, type the following code:

print("Hello, World!")

1. Save and Run Your Program:

   • Save the file with a .py extension, like hello.py.

   • Press F5 or go to Run > Run Module to run your program.

Congratulations! You've just written and run your first Python program.

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Resources

• Official Documentation: The official Python documentation is a comprehensive resource that covers all aspects of Python programming.
• Online Tutorials: Websites like Codecademy, Coursera, and Udacity offer interactive Python tutorials.

• Books:

  • "Python Crash Course" by Eric Matthes.

  • "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" by Al Sweigart.

• Community:

  • Stack Overflow for asking technical questions.
  • Reddit’s r/learnpython for joining discussions and getting help on your Python journey.