1. Reasons for Python as the learner’s first programming language.
Python is a good programming language for beginners because it has a simple and easy-to-learn syntax, as well as a large and supportive community. Additionally, Python has a wide range of libraries and frameworks that can be used for a variety of tasks, such as web development, data analysis, and machine learning, which makes it a versatile language for beginners to learn.
Some of the main advantages of Python include:
- Easy to learn and read: Python has a simple and straightforward syntax, making it easy for beginners to understand and write code.
- Large and supportive community: Python has a large and active community of developers, which means that beginners can easily find help and resources online.
- Versatility: Python can be used for a wide range of tasks, including web development, data analysis, machine learning, and more, making it a versatile language to learn.
- Plenty of libraries and frameworks: Python has a large number of libraries and frameworks, such as NumPy, Pandas, and Django, which can be used to perform various tasks and make development faster and more efficient.
- Cross-platform compatibility: Python is compatible with multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and Mac, which means that code written on one platform can easily be run on another.
- High-level language, which means that it’s more human-readable, and less complex than other low-level languages.
2. Introduction to the IDLE interpreter (shell) and its documentation.
IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment) is the default Python interpreter that comes with the Python programming language. It is a simple and easy-to-use interactive development environment (IDE) for beginners, that allows you to write, run, and debug Python code in a single interface.
Some of the features of IDLE include:
- Syntax highlighting: IDLE highlights different parts of the code, such as keywords, strings, and comments, making it easier to read and understand the code.
- Auto-indentation: IDLE automatically indents the code, making it more readable and easier to understand.
- Debugging tools: IDLE includes a built-in debugger, which allows you to step through the code and identify errors.
- Interactive shell: IDLE includes an interactive shell, where you can test and run small pieces of code.
- Multi-window support: IDLE allows you to open multiple windows, making it easy to work on multiple projects at the same time.
- Cross-platform: IDLE is available on all platforms where Python is supported, including Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Overall, IDLE is a good choice for beginners as it is easy to use and has all the basic features that you need to start programming with Python.
Expression evaluation: similarities and differences compared to calculator- expressions and operators of types int, float, boolean. Built-in function type. Operator precedence.
- Enumeration of simple and compound statements.
- The expression statement.
- The assert statement, whose operand is a boolean expression (values true or false).
- The assignment statement, dynamic binding of names to values, (type is associated with
data and not with names); automatic and implicit declaration of variable names with
the assignment statement; assigning the valueNone to a name. - The del (delete) statement. Input/output with print and input functions. A statement list (semicolonseparated list of simple statements on a single line) as a single interpreter command.
- The import statement for already-defined functions and constants. The augmented
assignment statement. - The built-inhelp() function.
- Interactive and script modes of IDLE, running a script, restarting the shell.
- The compound statement def to define functions; the role of indentation for delimiting
the body of a compound statement; calling a previously defined function. - Compound data types str, tuple and list (enclosed in quotes, parentheses and brackets,
respectively). - Indexing individual elements within these types.
- Strings and tuples are immutable, lists are mutable. Built-in functions min, max, sum. Interactive solution of model problems, (e.g., finding the square root of a number or zero of a function), by
repeatedly executing the body of a loop (where the body is a statement list).