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Python Programming for Complete Beginners

The code of the language is more readable compared to many others due to the simplicity of syntax.

Why Python Is a Good First Language

The code of the language is more readable compared to many others due to the simplicity of syntax. Therefore, this language is less difficult to learn for those who are absolute beginners in programming. Furthermore, Python is highly popular among developers because it is used in data science, web programming, scripting and other spheres. In addition, it is easy to find the solution to any problem concerning this programming language due to the numerous forums with large communities of users.

Set Up Without Overthinking It

In order to begin programming, it is necessary to install Python interpreter and a code editor which are all you really need in the beginning. Excessive research of the best possible development environment before writing the first line of the code is very typical of beginners who delay the only thing that can teach them – writing the code itself. The basic text editor with syntax highlighting is quite sufficient in the beginning; other tools are worth considering later after getting acquainted with them and understanding the problem they solve.

Variables and Basic Data Types

A variable is a named place that stores some value. It can be either a number, a word, or a list of elements. Getting familiar with several basic types of data – numbers, strings, Boolean values, and collections – enables you to understand the main building blocks of the language. These notions may sound quite abstract but it will be much easier to understand them when you use them to solve a problem.

Making Decisions and Repeating Actions

Almost everything that a program does consists of two operations: making a decision in case some condition is satisfied and repeating actions some certain amount of times. Learning how to make these actions in a right way, checking if a certain condition is true before performing some operations, creating a loop to go through a list of items makes it possible to create a useful program instead of one that executes the same actions in the same order. These operations are widely used in almost every program.

Functions: Dividing Code Into Smaller Pieces

A function is a block of code that is used many times instead of writing it again. Breaking the main problem into smaller pieces, each of which performs one particular task, is the key to creating a good program that is easy to read, test and modify in the future. It is important to be able to break the program into smaller pieces and this habit becomes especially useful when your programs become more complicated and consist of dozens of lines.

Real Code Works Better Than Watching the Code

Watching tutorials on programming looks like doing something, but in fact, writing the real code, encountering errors and solving them is much more important. Completing a simple project, such as a calculator, a to-do list or some script, gives much more knowledge than many hours of watching other people's programs. Choosing a small problem that you want to solve with Python helps you to overcome the difficulties of your first project.

Reading Errors Instead of Fear of Them

Error messages are not scary and they give you the information about the exact mistake in your code. They tell you what is going wrong with your program, and therefore, they can be considered as one of the most useful tools for a beginner. Analyzing the error message and solving the problem gives you a lot of useful experience which is very important when programming.

Where Python Is Used

This language is used in many aspects of software development such as developing the backend of a website, analyzing the data, automating the repetitive tasks (renaming the files or scraping the data from the web), building and training of machine learning models. Knowing this helps you to choose a particular direction of specialization when you know the basics. Developing a small program in the field you have chosen can give you more experience than studying the language.

What to Learn Next When the Basics Become Familiar

When decisions, loops, functions and basic data types become clear, choosing one particular field such as a website, data analysis or automation of the task and moving forward gives much more experience than completing many lessons for beginners. Learning new concepts exactly when a real project needs them tends to be more effective than learning all topics in a random order. The basics that you already know are enough to develop a project; the rest will be learned during its development.