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[[PageList(BeginnersGuide/)]]

Beginner's Guide to Python

New to programming? Python is free, and easy to learn if you know where to start! This guide will help you to get started quickly.

New to Python?

PageList(BeginnersGuide/)

  • Read ["BeginnersGuide/Overview"] to learn the key points.
  • First, you need to get the Python interpreter installed on your computer. (This is the program that reads Python programs and carries out their instructions; you need it before you can do any Python programming.) See ["BeginnersGuide/Download"] for instructions for downloading the correct version of Python.
  • You'll want to select a [http://www.python.org/moin/PythonEditors text editor] that has support for Python.

  • Need to know how to run programs? See [http://www.python.org/doc/faq/windows.html#how-do-i-run-a-python-program-under-windows How do I Run a Program Under Windows] (Unix/Linux users are assumed, perhaps incorrectly, to be familiar with the necessary techniques).

  • Next, you're going to want to read a tutorial and try some simple experiments with your new Python interpreter.
    • If you've never programmed before, see ["BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers"].

    • If you have previous programming experience, consult ["BeginnersGuide/Programmers"], which lists more advanced tutorials.
    • Free Python video lectures are also available ["Intro to programming with Python and Tkinter"], You would be able to view the video using mplayer once you have download the files. If you are using windows, it requires a DivX player, available from http://www.divx.com/divx/windows/. (One user reports success viewing the videos on OS X 10.4 using the VLC player -- http://www.videolan.org/)

    • If English isn't your first language, you might be more comfortable with a tutorial that's been translated into your language. Consult python.org's [http://www.python.org/doc/NonEnglish.html list of Non-English resources].

  • Once you've read a tutorial, you can browse through

    [http://www.python.org/doc/ Python's online documentation]. It includes [http://www.python.org/doc/current/tut/ a tutorial] that may be helpful, [http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/ a Library Reference] that lists all of the modules that come standard with Python, and [http://www.python.org/doc/current/ref/ the Language Reference] for a complete (if rather dry) explanation of Python's syntax.

  • Or you can find python tutorials on [http://www.codeteacher.com Code Teacher].

  • Most Python books will include an introduction; see IntroductoryBooks for suggested titles.

  • Consult ["BeginnersGuide/Examples"] for small programs and little snippets of code that can help you learn.
  • Need help from a human? Read ["BeginnersGuide/Help"] for mailing lists and newsgroups.
  • Or, you can pay for a Python course; see ["BeginnersGuide/Courses"] for a list.
  • Teachers can join the [http://www.python.org/sigs/edu-sig/ EDU-SIG], a mailing list for discussion of Python's use in teaching at any level ranging from K-12 up to university.

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CategoryDocumentation

BeginnersGuide (last edited 2023-08-29 20:15:52 by eriky)

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