1 - Introduction

1.1 - What is Python?

Python is a versatile, high-level programming language known for its simplicity and readability. It was created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991. Since then, Python has gained tremendous popularity and has become one of the most widely used programming languages across various domains, including web development, data analysis, scientific computing, and artificial intelligence. In this introduction, we'll cover the history of Python, how to install and set up Python, the Python interpreter and interactive mode, different Python development environments, and writing your first Python program.

1.2 - A Brief History of Python

Python was conceived in the late 1980s and developed by Guido van Rossum at the National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science in the Netherlands. Guido wanted to create a language that was easy to read, write, and understand, while still being powerful and expressive. He named it Python after the British comedy group Monty Python. Python's design philosophy emphasizes code readability, with a focus on using whitespace indentation to delimit code blocks instead of using braces or keywords.

1.3 - Python Installation and Setup

To start using Python, you need to install the Python interpreter on your computer. The Python interpreter is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can download the Python installer from the official Python website (https://www.python.org) and follow the installation instructions specific to your operating system. During the installation, you can choose whether to install additional components, such as development tools and third-party libraries. Once installed, Python provides a command-line interface and various tools for executing Python code.

1.3 - Python Interpreter and Interactive Mode

After installing Python, you can access the Python interpreter, which is a program that reads and executes Python code. The Python interpreter can be run in interactive mode, allowing you to enter Python statements directly and see the results immediately. Interactive mode is useful for experimenting with code, testing small snippets, and learning Python interactively. To start the Python interpreter in interactive mode, you can open a terminal or command prompt and run the python command. You can then type Python code and press Enter to execute it.

1.4 - Python Development Environments

while the Python interpreter provides an interactive mode, it may not be the most efficient way to develop larger programs or projects. Python development environments offer additional features and tools to enhance the development workflow. These environments provide code editors with syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging capabilities. They also offer project management features, version control integration, and support for running and testing Python code within the development environment. Some popular Python development environments include PyCharm, Visual Studio Code, and Jupyter. Choosing the right development environment depends on your specific needs and preferences.

1.5 - Writing Your First Python Program

Once you have Python installed and a development environment set up, you're ready to write your first Python program. A common starting point is to create a "Hello, World!" program, which simply prints the phrase "Hello, World!" to the console. To write this program, you can open a text editor or your chosen development environment, enter the following code:

print("Hello, World!")

Save the file with a .py extension, such as hello_world.py. Then, open a terminal or command prompt, navigate to the directory where you saved the file, and run the following command:

python hello_world.py

You should see the output Hello, World! displayed in the console. Congratulations! You've successfully written and executed your first Python program.