Python Programming Course Notes

Introduction

• Course Overview: Learning Python programming from scratch
• Python Popularity: High demand for jobs, used for scripting and automation
• Ease of Learning: Beginner-friendly, minimal syntax, fast learning curve

Installing Python and Text Editor

• Python Installation: Download Python from python.org/downloads
  • Choose Python 3.x (future of Python) over Python 2.x (legacy, less supported)
• Text Editor: Recommended to install PyCharm (Community version is free)
  • Go to jetbrains.com/pycharm to download
  • Configure settings like theme and interpreter (Python 3)
  • Create a new project and Python file

Writing and Running Basic Python Programs

• Hello World Program: Basic print statement example print("Hello, World!")
• Drawing Shapes: Using multiple print statements print("/\") print("/ \") print("/____\")

Variables in Python

• Variable Creation: Storing data values for easy reuse and management character_name = "John" character_age = 35 print(character_name, character_age)
• Types of Data for Variables: Strings, numbers, and booleans is_male = True character_age = 50.5
• Modification of Variables character_name = "Mike"

Working with Strings

• String Basics: Creating and using strings phrase = "Draft Academy" print(phrase.upper()) # Uppercase print(phrase.isupper()) # Boolean check
• String Functions: Common functions like .upper(), .lower(), .isupper(), .islower()
• String Indexing: Accessing individual characters and string methods like .index() print(phrase[0]) print(phrase.index("A"))
• String Concatenation: Combining strings print(phrase + " is cool")

Working with Numbers

• Basic Arithmetic: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division print(3 + 4) print(3 * 4)
• Advanced Functions: abs(), pow(), max(), min(), round(), math.sqrt() import math print(abs(-5)) print(math.sqrt(36))

User Input

• Getting Input from Users name = input("Enter your name: ") print("Hello " + name + "!")

Building a Basic Calculator

• Calculator Program: Adding two numbers num1 = float(input("Enter first number: ")) num2 = float(input("Enter second number: ")) result = num1 + num2 print(result)

Conditional Statements (If Statements)

• Basic If Statements is_male = True if is_male: print("You are a male") else: print("You are not a male")
• Comparison Operators: ==, !=, <, >, <=, >= if num1 == num2: print("Equal")

Dictionaries in Python

• Creating Dictionaries monthConversions = { "Jan": "January", "Feb": "February" } print(monthConversions["Jan"])
• Dictionary Functions: Using .get() and handling missing keys print(monthConversions.get("Luv", "Not a valid key"))

Loops in Python

• While Loops: Repeating a block of code while a condition is true i = 1 while i <= 10: print(i) i += 1
• For Loops: Iterating over a sequence (list, string, etc.) friends = ["Jim", "Karen", "Kevin"] for friend in friends: print(friend)

Exponent Function

• Exponent Function Implementation def raise_to_power(base_num, pow_num): result = 1 for index in range(pow_num): result *= base_num return result print(raise_to_power(2, 3)) # Output: 8

2D Lists & Nested Loops

• Creating and Accessing 2D Lists number_grid = [ [1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9] ] print(number_grid[0][0]) # Output: 1
• Nested Loops for 2D Lists for row in number_grid: for col in row: print(col)

Functions in Python

• Defining and Calling Functions def say_hi(name): print("Hello " + name) say_hi("Mike")
• Return Statements in Functions def cube(num): return num * num * num print(cube(3))

Building a Basic Translator

• Simple Translator Program def translate(phrase): translation = "" for letter in phrase: if letter in "AEIOUaeiou": translation += "g" else: translation += letter return translation print(translate("Hello")) # Output: Hgllg

File Handling

• Reading Files employee_file = open("employees.txt", "r") print(employee_file.read()) employee_file.close()
• Writing and Appending to Files employee_file = open("employees.txt", "a") employee_file.write("Toby - Human Resources") employee_file.close()

Using Modules

• Importing Modules import math print(math.sqrt(36))
• Installing External Modules Using Pip pip install [module-name]

Classes and Objects

• Creating Classes and Objects class Student: def __init__(self, name, major, gpa): self.name = name self.major = major self.gpa = gpa student1 = Student("Jim", "Business", 3.1) print(student1.name)

Object Functions

• Functions Inside Classes class Student: def on_honor_roll(self): if self.gpa >= 3.5: return True return False student1 = Student("Jim", "Business", 3.1) print(student1.on_honor_roll()) # Output: False

Inheritance in Python

• Creating Inheritance: Base and Derived Classes class Chef: def make_chicken(self): print("The chef makes a chicken") class ChineseChef(Chef): def make_special_dish(self): print("The chef makes orange chicken") myChef = Chef() myChef.make_chicken() myChineseChef = ChineseChef() myChineseChef.make_special_dish()

Python Interpreter

• Using the Python Interpreter: Quick testing and experiments python3 >>> print("Hello, World!")