Getting Started with Python
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Powerful, high-level, and versatile programming language that has gained immense popularity among developers, data scientists, and hobbyists.
Why Python?
- simplicity and readability
- strong support for integration with other languages
- vast library of modules and packages allows for rapid development
- cross-platform compatibility
- active community and third-party libraries
- easy-to-read syntax
- object-oriented and functional programming paradigms
- interpreted language, making it easy to test and debug code
- dynamic typing and automatic memory management
- extensive support for data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence
Syntax
Python syntax is designed to be easy to read and understand, with a focus on simplicity and minimalism.
- Indentation: Unlike other programming languages, Python relies on indentation. A consistent number of spaces or tabs (usually 4 spaces) are used to indicate the beginning and end of code blocks.
- Comments: start with a hash symbol (#)
- Line continuation: To split a long line of code into multiple lines for readability, use a backslash () at the end of a line or enclose the expression in parentheses.
Installing Python
Official website at https://www.python.org/downloads/.
After installing Python, you can check if it’s installed correctly:
python --version
Python 3.12.4Running Your First Python Script
With a file named hello.py and with the following content:
print("Hello, World!")
To run the script, enter the following command:
python hello.py
Hello, World!