Python: Basics

• Python syntax
• Data types (string, float, integer, boolean)
• Control flow
• Methods
• Functions with return value
• Data structures (lists, tuples, set, dictionaries)
• Basics of Reading and Writing Files
• Debugging

This is a beginner friendly introduction into Python. You do not need any knowledge of this language prior to this course. However, if you never have used a programming language (e.g. working with variables or control structures), we recommend to have a glance at a short explanation of the fundamentals of programming prior to this course. In this course the focus lies on learning Python as an end and not as a mean to learn programming. Hence, we only touch the basic principles of programming while explaining the syntax of Python.

Students and employees of the University of Zurich

Participants of this course will be able to describe the basics of the Python programming language and know how to work with different data types as well as data structures in this language to store, retrieve and calculate information. Furthermore, participants will be able to use control flow structures and functions to write their own first programs.

Course materials are provided online on the day of the course.
Additionally, we recommend the following resources:

• Python for Everybody (https://www.py4e.com/book)
• Python.org - The Python Tutorial — Python 3.9.6 documentation (Ch. 1-5;7;8)
• W3 Schools - Python Tutorial (w3schools.com)

Installation Guide

We recommend using your own computer for this course.
Please, ensure before the course starts that you have a running environment to write and run Python programs.

If you already have a running Python installation with Jupyter Notebook or an IDE like Atom, PyCharm or Spyder, feel free to use whatever you feel most comfortable with. If not, we recommend to install and use Visual Studio Code.

Install Python first

Download and install the latest stable Python 3 release. (under no circumstances should it be version 2.7) from www.python.org. If you are on Windows: Do not install from the Windows Store

Optional: Install Visual Studio Code as IDE

Follow the instructions here:
https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/python/python-tutorial
To summarize the above-linked tutorial:

1. You need to install Python first!
2. Install Visual Studio Code (VSC) https://code.visualstudio.com/
3. Install the Python extension - VSC will ask you if you create a .py file and open it in the editor. Otherwise, check the link below
4. (optional) Verify that everything works by doing the Hello World part of the tutorial
5. (optional) Install pylance (also a Visual Studio Code plugin)

How to install extensions: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/extension-gallery