How to Learn Python Computer Language

Python is an accessible programming language that you can use to create all kinds of software and web applications. Many books and free online resources can help you to get your Python programming feet wet, complete with example code and assignments to help exercise your programming muscle. No matter how much you read on the subject, there is no substitute for sitting down and writing programs in Python in terms of mastering the language.

Instructions

1. Download and run the Python installer file for your operating system from the Python Downloads website so your computer can run Python programs. Launch the IDLE interactive Python shell program by clicking on "IDLE" in the "Python" folder under "Applications" (Mac) or "All Programs" (Windows). Type Python codes into the terminal and it will execute your command or return an error.

2. Learn the basic Python vocabulary by reading through a book on the Python programming language, such as "Learning Python" by Mark Lutz or "Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner" by Mike Dawson, or an online Python resource such as "How to Think Like a Computer Scientist" or the "Python Programming" wikibook. Focus on the difference between integers and floats--integers are whole numbers, while floats are numbers with decimals--and on recognizing types of variables, such as strings, dictionaries and tuples.

3. Practice working with Python operators like addition (+), multiplication (*) and exponents (**). Launch the IDLE application, type in expressions and see what happens. Experiment with performing operations on multiple types, such as strings, floats, tuples and dictionaries. See what happens when you add two strings together or multiply a float by a string. Press Ctrl+C to abort if you get caught in an infinite loop, where the program runs endlessly.

4. Write practice Python scripts, such as calculating interest on a loan or writing a bot that asks the user for her name. Map the logic of your program first and then find the corresponding Python code to execute that logic. Take a self-paced computer programming course featuring Python through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's OpenCourseware project and complete the suggested assignments. Focus on getting your program to work first and worry about making it more efficient later.

5. Read other people's Python programs. Try to decipher what each block of code does without looking at the comments. Keep in mind that every programmer has a different approach to the same problem, just as fiction authors have different writing styles, so consider familiarizing yourself with others' code a learning exercise and not an instructional manual.

6. Write a more in-depth program with defined functions, which are blocks of code that you can refer back to throughout the program. Brainstorm a problem in your current life that a program might be able to help with, such as keeping track of a budget or the guest list for a party. Read the Python documentation for an in-depth look at every command and hundreds of sample code snippets if you get stuck trying to make a particular part of your program work. You can solve nearly any problem with Python.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't concern yourself with understanding every single thing you read right off the bat; programming resources are meant to be referred back to constantly, not to be absorbed in one sitting.

• Find an experienced Python programmer who can give you feedback or help you when you get stuck. You don't have to meet with him in person; online forums and mailing lists are great places to ask questions and seek feedback.

References

• MIT: Python and IDLE
• UC Berkeley: One Day of IDLE Toying
• Python Documentation

Resources

• Python: Download Python
• MIT: A Gentle Introduction to Programming Using Python
• MIT: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
• WikiBooks: Python Programming