Notes on Python Programming Course

Introduction to Python

• Python is a popular programming language, easy to use, and beginner-friendly.
• Python is suitable for job seeking, automation, and writing scripts.
• The course is designed to teach Python from scratch with specially designed lessons.

Installing Python and Text Editor

• Download Python from www.python.org/downloads.
• Choose Python 3 over Python 2 for future-proof learning.
• Install an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) like PyCharm from jetbrains.com/pycharm.
• PyCharm Community version is free and suitable for beginners.

Writing Your First Python Program

• Open PyCharm and create a new project.
• Create a new Python file and write a "Hello World" program using print("Hello World").

Basic Python Concepts

Variables

• Variables are containers for storing data values.
• Python has different types of variables: strings (text), numbers (integers and floats), and booleans (true/false).
• Example: character_name = "John", character_age = 35

Strings

• Strings are sequences of characters used to store text.
• Common operations: concatenation, changing case (.upper(), .lower()), checking .isupper(), .islower(), and more.

Numbers

• Python supports arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and modulus.
• Use functions like abs(), pow(), max(), min(), round(), floor(), ceil(), and sqrt() for mathematical operations.

User Input and Basic Calculations

• Use input() function to get user input.
• Convert input to a number using int() or float().
• Build a basic calculator by getting numbers and an operator from the user.

Data Structures

Lists

• Lists are used to store multiple items in a single variable.
• Elements in a list can be accessed using indices.
• Lists support operations like append, insert, remove, pop, clear, sort, and reverse.

Tuples

• Tuples are immutable lists; once created, they cannot be altered.
• Suitable for storing data that should not change.

Dictionaries

• Dictionaries store data in key-value pairs.
• Example: monthConversions = { 'Jan': 'January', 'Feb': 'February' }

Control Structures

If Statements

• Used to perform actions based on conditions.
• Can use and, or, and not to combine conditions.

Loops

• While Loop: Repeats a block of code as long as a condition is true.
• For Loop: Iterates over a sequence (like a list or string).

Functions

• Functions are reusable blocks of code that perform a specific task.
• Use def to define a function, followed by parameters in parentheses.
• Functions can return values using the return statement.

Classes and Objects

• Classes are templates for creating objects (custom data types).
• Objects are instances of classes.
• Use classes to model real-world entities, defining attributes and methods.

Inheritance

• Classes can inherit attributes and methods from other classes, allowing code reuse.
• Use the syntax class SubClass(ParentClass) to inherit.

File Handling

• Use open() to open files and close() to close them.
• Modes include: r (read), w (write), a (append).
• Can read files using .read(), .readline(), or .readlines().

Error Handling

• Use try and except blocks to handle exceptions (errors) gracefully.
• Specify exception types to catch specific errors.

Modules

• Modules are files containing Python code, which can be imported using import.
• Python has built-in modules and allows importing third-party modules via pip.

Conclusion

• Python's versatility makes it a suitable choice for many applications.
• The course covers fundamentals that are crucial for any Python programmer.