Getting Started with Python: Introducing Python!

I am studying Python with @skillcrush, in this article we cover an introduction to python!

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🐍 Greetings travelers! We are studying Python with Skillcrush. In this article we cover an introduction to python.

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I’ve wrapped up my Front End Developer portfolio at Skillcrush, read here:

I am now enrolled at UC Berkeley! 🏫 I will be taking their Full Stack MERN Coding Bootcamp through the remainder of the year.

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Let’s go Snake! 🐍

It was actually named after Monty Python tho.

ouch. I feel this one.

Python is a general purpose language and can be used for many things:

• Web development

• Data analysis

• Machine learning

• Game programming

• File processing

For this course we will not be covering machine learning or game programming.

Python is open source, meaning anyone can use it.

Computational Thinking is the way computers think and solve problems through code.

Four Computational Thinking Principles:

1. Decomposition

2. Pattern recognition

3. Abstraction

4. Algorithm writing

→ DECOMPOSITION

the process of taking a large problem & breaking it down into smaller problems that area easier to solve

→ PATTERN RECOGNITION

looking for similarities among the smaller problems identified in the decomposition step

→ ABSTRACTION

finding a simplified version of the problem to solve & ignoring the extra details

→ ALGORITHM WRITING

creating the instructions or code the computer will follow in order to solve the problem

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Replit

Kind of like CodeSandbox, this is a platform to build python code and test it.

Class Project

For us to practice building in Python we are given a project. This project will be to create a personal assistant app. The goal is to have the personal assistant app create and store to-do lists, personal contacts, and important birthdays.

Setting Up Replit Workspace

The lesson walks us through how to create our first replit workspace.

Replit Workspace

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Building Variables & Data Types

→ VARIABLES

Containers that store the information you use in your code

→ DATA TYPES

The kind of information you store in your variables - such as a number or text

To use variables and data types successfully:

1. Write variables

2. Select different types of data

3. Modify data

Most common Data Types:

• strings

• integers

• floats

→ STRINGS

Series of characters that can include letters, numbers, and symbols. Strings will have quotes around them to define the beginning and end of the string.

→ INTEGERS

Any whole number like 0, -1, 25, and 1990. Integers do not require quotes.

→ FLOATS

Data type that is used only for numbers with a decimal. Used when precision matters.

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→ ARITHMETIC OPERATORS

Symbols that represent math operations, like addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), and division (/).

→ CONCATENATING

Computer science term that means to join.

→ REPETITION OPERATOR

Uses multiplication symbol to repeat a string over and over.

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Naming Variables

• Lowercase - always lowercase variable names. Uppercase isn’t wrong per se, but it’s not typical for Python.

• Underscore between words - No spaces allowed. Not conventional to do camelCase either. It’s easier to read and common place in Python.

• Descriptive - The name should describe the purpose of the variable. This way any coder can quickly understand the role of the variable.

Reserved Words

These names cannot be used as variable names. They are keywords used in Python to identify other coding elements and to perform operations. If used, the code will not run.

and, as, assert, break, class, continue, def, del, elif, else, except, False, finally, for, from, global, if, import, in, is, lambda, None, nonlocal, not, or, pass, raise, return, True, try, while, with, yield

Read more here about Reserved Words.

Comments

In Python comments start with a number/hash sign (#). The sign tells the code editor to ignore the characters after it when the code is run.

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Python Challenges

My First Variable

Time for a coding challenge, where we are going to build our first Python variable. Skillcrush gives challenges along the way. I’ll share my results here with you! However I highly recommend signing on with their program or one that works within your budget.

My First Variable on Replit

Math with Python

Now time to dive into some math and arithmetic.

Math Challenge on Replit

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I’ve loved beginning to learn Python! Now that I have done work in both JavaScript and PHP I could see how once you learn one language it can be easier to adapt it to others. In the next article about Python we will cover control structures and functions.

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What did you think? Leave me a comment and share!

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