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== Beginner's Guide to Python == = Beginner's Guide to Python =
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'''New to Python?''' == New to Python? ==
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Read ["BeginnersGuide/Overview"] to learn the key points. Read [[BeginnersGuide/Overview]] for a short explanation of what Python is.
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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		 == Getting Python ==

Next, install the Python interpreter 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
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You'll want to select a [http://www.python.org/moin/PythonEditors text editor] that has support for Python. At some stage, you'll want to edit and save your program code. Take a look at HowToEditPythonCode for some advice and recommendations.
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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). == Learning Python ==
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Next, you're going to want to read a tutorial and try some simple experiments with your new Python interpreter. Next, read a tutorial and try some simple experiments with your new Python interpreter.
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      * 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].		       * If you've never programmed before, see [[BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers]] for a list of suitable tutorials.
      * If you have previous programming experience, consult [[BeginnersGuide/Programmers]], which lists more advanced tutorials.
      * 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://wiki.python.org/moin/Languages|list of Non-English resources]].
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Most tutorials assume you know how to run a program on your computer.
If you are using Windows and need help with this, see [[http://www.python.org/doc/faq/windows/#how-do-i-run-a-python-program-under-windows|How do I Run a Program Under Windows]].
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[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.		 [[http://docs.python.org|Python's online documentation]].
It includes [[http://docs.python.org/tut/|a tutorial]]
that may be helpful, [[http://docs.python.org//lib/|a Library Reference]] that lists all of the modules that come
standard with Python, and [[http://docs.python.org/ref/|the Language Reference]] for a complete (if rather dry) explanation of Python's syntax.
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Most Python books will include an introduction; see IntroductoryBooks for suggested titles. When you are ready to write your first program you will need a text
editor. To get started you can use any editor you are familiar with - even something like Notepad - but as you gain experience you may want to use a text editor with features that help you write Python programs. See PythonEditors for a list of programs friendly to Python code editing.
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Consult ["BeginnersGuide/Examples"] for small == Need Help? ==

Need help with any of this? Read [[BeginnersGuide/Help]] for mailing lists and newsgroups.

Most Python books will include an introduction to the language; see IntroductoryBooks for suggested titles.

Consult [[BeginnersGuide/Examples]] for small
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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.
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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.		 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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[[PageList(BeginnersGuide/)]] <<PageList(BeginnersGuide/)>>
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 * The first place to look is the Python Package Index, now appropriately renamed [http://cheeseshop.python.org the Cheese Shop].  * The first place to look is the [[http://pypi.python.org/pypi|Python Package Index]].
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 try [http://www.python.org/search/ searching python.org] - you can
 find anything mentioned on the Python site, in the [http://www.python.org/doc/faq/ FAQs], or in the
 newsgroup. More info: [http://www.python.org/search/#help where to
 search].		  try [[http://www.python.org/search/|searching python.org]] - you can
 find anything mentioned on the Python site, in the [[http://www.python.org/doc/faq/|FAQs]], or in the
 newsgroup. More info: [[http://www.python.org/search/|where to search]].
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 * Next, try [http://www.google.com Google] or other  * Next, try [[http://www.google.com|Google]] or other
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 * Python is a product of the [http://www.python.org/psf/ Python Software Foundation], a non-profit organization that holds the copyright. [http://www.python.org/psf/donations.html Donations to the PSF] are tax-deductible in the USA, and you can donate via credit card or PayPal.  * Python is a product of the [[http://www.python.org/psf/|Python Software Foundation]], a non-profit organization that holds the copyright. [[http://www.python.org/psf/donations/|Donations to the PSF]] are tax-deductible in the USA, and you can donate via credit card or PayPal.
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 * To report a bug in the Python core, use the [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=105470 Python Bug Tracker] at SourceForge.  * To report a bug in the Python core, use the [[http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=105470|Python Bug Tracker]] at SourceForge.
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 * To contribute a bug fix or other patch to the Python
 core, read the [http://www.python.org/dev/ Python Developer's Guide]
 for more information about Python's development process.		  * To contribute a bug fix or other patch to the Python core, read the [[http://www.python.org/dev/|Python Developer's Guide]] for more information about Python's development process.
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 * To contribute to the official [http://www.python.org/doc/ Python documentation], join the [http://www.python.org/sigs/doc-sig/ Documentation SIG],
 write to docs@python.org, or use the [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=305470 Patch Manager] to contribute a documentation patch.		  * To contribute to the official [[http://www.python.org/doc/|Python documentation]], join the [[http://www.python.org/sigs/doc-sig/|Documentation SIG]], write to docs@python.org, or use the [[http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=305470|Patch Manager]] to contribute a documentation patch.
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 * To announce your module or application to the Python community,
 use [news:comp.lang.python.announce comp.lang.python.announce]. See [http://www.python.org/community/lists.html#comp-lang-python-announce the guide to Python mailing lists] for more information.		  * To announce your module or application to the Python community, use [[news:comp.lang.python.announce|comp.lang.python.announce]]. See [[http://www.python.org/community/lists/#comp-lang-python-announce|the guide to Python mailing lists]] for more information.
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 * To propose changes to the python core, post your thoughts to [news:comp.lang.python comp.lang.python].
 If you have an implementation, follow the [http://www.python.org/patches/ Python Patch Guidelines].		  * To propose changes to the python core, post your thoughts to [[news:comp.lang.python|comp.lang.python]]. If you have an implementation, follow the [[http://www.python.org/patches/|Python Patch Guidelines]].

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?

Read BeginnersGuide/Overview for a short explanation of what Python is.

Getting Python

Next, install the Python interpreter 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.

At some stage, you'll want to edit and save your program code. Take a look at HowToEditPythonCode for some advice and recommendations.

Learning Python

Next, read a tutorial and try some simple experiments with your new Python interpreter.

Most tutorials assume you know how to run a program on your computer. If you are using Windows and need help with this, see How do I Run a Program Under Windows.

Once you've read a tutorial, you can browse through Python's online documentation. It includes a tutorial that may be helpful, a Library Reference that lists all of the modules that come standard with Python, and the Language Reference for a complete (if rather dry) explanation of Python's syntax.

When you are ready to write your first program you will need a text editor. To get started you can use any editor you are familiar with - even something like Notepad - but as you gain experience you may want to use a text editor with features that help you write Python programs. See PythonEditors for a list of programs friendly to Python code editing.

Need Help?

Need help with any of this? Read BeginnersGuide/Help for mailing lists and newsgroups.

Most Python books will include an introduction to the language; see IntroductoryBooks for suggested titles.

Consult BeginnersGuide/Examples for small programs and little snippets of code that can help you learn.

Or, you can pay for a Python course; see BeginnersGuide/Courses for a list.

Teachers can join the EDU-SIG, a mailing list for discussion of Python's use in teaching at any level ranging from K-12 up to university.

Complete list of Beginner's Guide pages

  1. BeginnersGuide/Download
  2. BeginnersGuide/Examples
  3. BeginnersGuide/Help
  4. BeginnersGuide/Mathematics
  5. BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers
  6. BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammersChinese
  7. BeginnersGuide/Overview
  8. BeginnersGuide/OverviewChinese
  9. BeginnersGuide/Programmers
  10. BeginnersGuide/Programmers (Cpp2Python.pdf)
  11. BeginnersGuide/Programmers/SimpleExamples

Looking for a particular Python module or application?

  • The first place to look is the Python Package Index.

  • If you can't find anything relevant in the Package Index,

    try searching python.org - you can find anything mentioned on the Python site, in the FAQs, or in the newsgroup. More info: where to search.

  • Next, try Google or other search engine of your choice. Searching for "python" and some relevant keywords will usually find something helpful.

  • Finally, you can try posting a query to the comp.lang.python Usenet group.

Want to contribute?

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BeginnersGuide (last edited 2025-03-07 01:13:11 by MaciejOlko)

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