Tutorial 1

Welcome to the python_tutorial wiki!

Installing Python

Introduction

Python is a scripting language that translates written programs directly into machine language when executed by the user. This is unlike other scripting languages, which usually have a compilation process before they can be run.

Over the years, the python language has become increasingly popular because the simplicity of language means it is relatively easy to get started, even for people with no background in programming. Python is also a free and open-source software that allows anyone in the community to develope and share packages with others over an internet connection. These packages have built over time to a very rich and powerful library for users to call upon, as we shall see by the end of this tutorial.

Installation

If you are using a Linux or an Apple Mac operating system then python is already installed on your computer. However, it's not advisable to start using Python directly, especially if you are a beginner, because badly written code can cause damage to your operating system or personal data. Instead, it is considered best practice to use a package manager that includes virtual environments in which you can run python more safely. For our purposes, a software called Anaconda is considered among the best, and can be downloaded for free from this link here. So no matter which operating system you use (Windows, Linux or Mac) the best way to begin is to install Anaconda.

Congratulations, you have installed a python package manager and can begin some basic practice using python! Now you can move on to Tutorial 2