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👩‍💻 Python for Beginners Tutorial

Kevin Stratvert・60 minutes read

Kevin introduces programming basics using Python, emphasizing the transition from simple to advanced concepts, illustrating how to write and execute code. The tutorial covers fundamental programming elements, Python installation, coding in Python's terminal and Visual Studio Code, variable creation, conditional statements, function definition, loops, handling errors, and utilizing libraries, highlighting the importance of practice and seeking help when needed.

Insights

The tutorial teaches Python programming from the ground up, starting with basic concepts and progressing to more advanced topics, enabling beginners to write and run their code successfully. It emphasizes the importance of learning programming and choosing Python as a beginner-friendly language.
Visual Studio Code is highlighted as a recommended IDE for Python coding, offering features like spell check, grammar check, and formatting capabilities. The tutorial provides detailed instructions on downloading, installing, and setting up Visual Studio Code for Python development, underscoring the benefits of using an IDE for efficient coding practices.

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Recent questions

What is Python programming?
Python is a programming language.
How do I write Python code?
Writing Python code involves using a text editor.
Why should I learn Python?
Learning Python offers diverse opportunities.
How do I run Python code?
Running Python code requires an interpreter.
What are the benefits of using an IDE for Python?
Using an IDE enhances coding efficiency.

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Summary

00:00

"Python Programming Basics for Beginners"

Kevin introduces the fundamentals of programming using Python, assuming no prior programming background.
The video progresses from basic concepts to more advanced ones, enabling viewers to write and run their source code.
The importance of learning programming and choosing Python as a language is discussed.
Instructions on obtaining Python, including visiting python.org, downloading the latest version, and installing it are provided.
Practical steps to check if Python is installed on Windows 10 using the command prompt are detailed.
The process of writing and running Python code in the Python terminal is demonstrated, including basic expressions and the use of the print function.
Exiting the Python terminal is explained, along with the option to use a text editor like Notepad to write code.
Saving Python code as a .py file in Notepad, testing the code in the command prompt, and running it successfully are outlined.
The analogy of writing a document in Notepad versus using an integrated development environment (IDE) for efficiency is presented.
The benefits of using an IDE for programming, such as spell check, grammar check, and formatting capabilities, are highlighted.

12:55

Choosing Visual Studio Code for Python Coding

Various IDEs are available for coding, such as Xcode for Apple, Android Studio for Android, RubyMine for Ruby, and Visual Studio Code for Python.
Visual Studio Code is recommended for Python coding and is free to download from code.visualstudio.com.
Download Visual Studio Code based on your operating system (Mac, Windows, Linux) and install it by following the setup process.
Install the Python extension in Visual Studio Code by searching for "Python" in the extensions tab and selecting the Python extension by Microsoft.
Set Python as the interpreter for Visual Studio Code by pressing control, shift, and P simultaneously and selecting the Python 3.9.2 interpreter.
Open a file in Visual Studio Code, such as a "Hello World" file, and observe the benefits of using an IDE, like line numbers and syntax highlighting.
Run Python code in Visual Studio Code by right-clicking and selecting "run Python file in terminal" or clicking the play icon in the top right corner.
Perform basic arithmetic operations in Python, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, following the default order of operations.
Use comments in your code to explain the functionality or purpose of specific sections, enhancing code readability and understanding.
Utilize single or double quotes for strings in Python, considering the use of quotes within text and the impact of whitespace on code readability.

24:24

Python Coding Basics: Comments, Variables, and Logic

Comments in code can be added using the hash symbol, which does not affect the code's output.
Comments can be placed on the same line as code or on separate lines, and when commented out, the code turns green to indicate it's a comment.
Comments are valuable for explaining code to others and for troubleshooting by temporarily canceling out code sections.
Variables in Python can hold different types of data, such as strings (like names) or integers (like numbers).
Rules for creating variables include using only letters, numbers, or underscores, not starting with a number, avoiding spaces, and not using Python keywords.
Variable names are case-sensitive, meaning uppercase and lowercase letters create distinct variables.
Assigning values to variables is done using the equal sign, and variables can be printed to display their assigned values.
Deleting variables is possible using the "del" function, and attempting to use a deleted variable results in an error.
Input can be requested from users and assigned to variables, allowing for dynamic data assignment.
Conditional logic in Python involves checking expressions for equality, inequality, or using operators like less than or greater than to make decisions based on variable values.

35:45

Python If Statements and Functions in VS Code

If statements are used to check multiple criteria in Visual Studio Code.
To write an if statement, type "if" followed by the condition to check.
Indentation automatically occurs after entering the condition.
After the condition, enter a colon and then write the code to execute if the condition is true.
Use "print" function to display a message based on the condition.
"Else" statement can be used to provide an alternative code block if the condition is false.
"Elif" statement allows checking multiple conditions sequentially.
Functions in Python are blocks of code that can be named and reused.
To create a function, use "def" followed by the function name and parentheses.
Functions need to be defined before they are called in the code.

47:00

"Functions, Arguments, Loops: Essential Python Coding"

Function can be collapsed to clear up view while coding
Functions can be expanded to update code within
Passing arguments into functions is essential
Arguments can be passed when calling a function
If statements can be included within functions
Different conditions can be set within functions
Returning values from functions is possible
Loops like while and for loops can be used in Python
While loops execute code multiple times until a condition is met
For loops iterate through a sequence of values and execute code

58:26

Python Programming Fundamentals: Loops, Libraries, Errors

Loops in programming can be used to iterate through days of the week, with the ability to break the loop at a specific point, such as after Thursday, using the "break" command, or to skip over a particular item, like Thursday, and continue with the loop using the "continue" command.
Libraries and modules in programming allow for building on existing code, such as using the "math" library to access the value of Pi by importing it and referencing ".pi" within the library.
Troubleshooting errors in programming, such as syntax errors (like missing quotes), runtime errors (like division by zero), and semantic errors (where the code runs but doesn't produce the expected output), can be resolved by carefully reviewing the code, understanding the error messages, and seeking help from resources like stackoverflow.com.
Understanding the fundamentals of programming in Python involves grasping concepts like loops, libraries, and error troubleshooting, with the ability to build on existing code and seek assistance for resolving different types of errors encountered during programming.

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