Introduction to Python Programming(Beginner’s Guide) |Board Infinity

Introduction

Want to explore the world of programming but don’t know where to start? Heard about Python as the easiest programming language but don’t know how to learn it? Then, follow this beginner’s guide to get an introduction to Python programming.

Want to create a web application, read or modify database systems, solve complex problems and handle big data? Then Python programming is for you. Moreover, having an introduction to Python programming helps if you’re a beginner in programming and want to get things done with a short amount of efficient code.

Created by Guido Van Rossum, Python is one of the oldest web development languages. It is heavily inspired by scripting languages like Unix Shell, ABC, and C or C++. Initially a web development language, Python can now be used to do mostly anything, thanks to libraries that make Python so powerful. But what is Python? Let’s discuss it!

What is Python?

Python is a general-purpose, interpreted, high-level programming that is also dynamically typed and garbage collected. Now let’s understand each property one by one:

General Purpose: Python as a programming language does not serve just one purpose. It is not only used for software development. It can be used for backend purposes and to work with databases, thanks to the Django framework. Thus, Python is a general-purpose language with its frameworks.
Interpreted: Programming languages like C++ are compiled which means they have to be compiled into machine code to even get executed by the CPU. Things are totally different in the case of Python as it’s an interpreted language. Thus, a source code written in Python can be directly executed without the need to get compiled first into machine-readable code.
High Level: A high-level programming language like Python is extremely user-friendly and its code is in a human-readable format so it's easier to convert algorithms directly into program code. In contrast, low-level language is not at all user-friendly as it involves the machine operation required to complete a task.
Garbage Collected: Suggestive of its name, garbage collection is a form of memory clearance feature that frees up unused memory, such as memory allocated by a program that is no more referenced.

Why should you learn Python?

Almost everyone recommends you learn Python, however, they rarely tell you the features of Python that actually make it versatile. Let’s discuss a few reasons why you should learn Python as your first programming language:

1. Easy to Grasp

One of the easiest programming languages to learn, Python was designed to be easy and readable. A beginner-friendly language, Python is easy to grasp, learn and apply because of its easy syntax, readable code, and supportive community for doubts.

2. Numerous Applications

If you want to learn one language to enter many fields, then Python is for you. It has various applications in many different fields such as Data Science, Web Development, rapid application development, and many more. Having an introduction to python, you can have the experience of working in different fields with just one language.

3. Easy to Code

Programming seems difficult due to the confusing syntax of programming languages, however, what if there’s a way you achieve the same result using fewer lines of code? Well, that’s possible through Python which allows one to write programs in lesser lines of code compared to most programming languages.

4. Job Demand

One of the most popular programming languages, Python is not only easy to learn but also offers numerous job opportunities in different fields. Moreover, there’s been an increase in demand for Python developers as most of the online infrastructure is shifting to using Python.

5. Highly Portable

How would it sound if I tell you that Python code can run on any device? Well, that’s the truth and Python programs being a platform-independent language can be transferred from one platform to another and executed without performing any changes.

6. Open-Sourced and Free

Python is an open-source software developed by numerous developers around the world and its source code is publicly available to be used even for commercial purposes. In short, Python is absolutely free to use and you don’t have to pay any charges for using it.

Well, it’s evident that Python is trending and one of the most popular programming languages in the world and there’s no doubt about it.

If you want to know more about why you should give Python a try, check out our latest blog on Why Python is a Versatile Language?

Applications of Python Programming?

We’ve gone through the basic introduction to Python and why you should learn it, however, you must also be familiar with the application of Python to completely understand its significance. For instance, the products you use in your daily lives are built using Python, such as Google, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify. Let’s discuss a few applications of Python programming in today’s world:

1. Web Development

After having an introduction to Python programming, people mostly prefer learning an emerging technology like Web Development. And guess what, there are pre-built libraries in Python that make web development a piece of the cake. Powered by a built-in testing framework and efficient code, Python helps build bug-free efficient programs. No need to compromise on performance as Python with its well-supported frameworks aids in the speedy implementation of code in less time.

2. Data Analytics

One of the rapidly developing fields, Data Analytics also makes heavy use of Python. In today’s world, data is gold and just preserving data is not enough. It must be analyzed and organized to come up with certain trends that help predict future outcomes. Python proves to be an efficient programming language that’s helpful in manipulating data or carrying out repetitive tasks seamlessly.

3. Machine Learning

Machine Learning is growing with increasing demand and Python is at the forefront, leading it. With extensive support of Open Source libraries, Python also offers efficient and easy code syntax to build scalable ML algorithms. Python can be integrated with other programming languages seamlessly, thus making it platform-independent and hence scalable to different OS and architectures.

Real-World Examples

Python has applications in most of the developing fields, however, does it have any real-world applications? Let’s find out:

Let’s start with familiarizing ourselves with what companies use in Python. The list includes tech giants like Google and companies like NASA, CERN, and even Wikipedia.
A popular social networking site Reddit is purely written in Python.
Want to create a web server gateway interface? Use Python as python scripts can act as scripting languages for web applications.
Most used frameworks like Django and Flask are all based on Python
Python heavily influences scientific computing via its libraries such as NumPy and SciPy.

How to Learn Python Programming

The primary reason for Python’s popularity is the ease of learning Python as a programming language. With easy-to-code simple syntax, learning Python is relatively easier than other programming languages as its more human-readable. With different learning curves depending on individual ability, one would require anywhere between 6 to 8 weeks to have an introduction to python programming and learn the basics of it. There are many resources to learn Python, and that’s why people get overwhelmed and quit. What you need is a detailed roadmap and a structured course, so you can master Python in a stipulated amount of time. Here’s a roadmap to mastering Python:

1. Choose a field before learning Python

Just aimlessly learning Python won’t benefit you much as you’ll get bored of the programming stuff. What you need is motivation to develop scalable software or websites which actually use concepts of Python. At first, you need to select a particular field or technology which you’re going to explore once you’ve learned the basics of Python. It can range anywhere from web development, and machine learning, to data analytics or even robotics.

2. Learn the basics of python and its syntax

Once you’ve made up your mind as to which technology to explore after learning Python, it’s time to dive deep into learning the basics of Python programming. It can ideally take up to 1 or 2 weeks but try not to spend more than 1 month learning the syntax and quickly jump on to build projects. Things to learn include the syntax of Python, keywords, functions, classes, data types, and exception handling. Try to build basic beginner-level programs like programs to identify prime numbers or calculate HCF or LCM. After you’re well versed in the basics of Python, it’s time to apply your knowledge in building beginner-level projects.

3. Make projects and apply what you learned

The best way to learn any skill is to apply it. The same proves true for learning programming languages and thus the best way to learn Python is through building projects. However, what projects to build? To have a detailed understanding of Python, you should try to build beginner-level projects using Python such as a tic tac toe game, a calculator, or even a program to apply an algorithm like Binary Search.

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Conclusion

Just having an introduction to python is not enough, you need to build upon that by making advanced projects. Keep in mind that programming is not a one-time thing. You can’t just learn the basics of Python and feel that you have mastered it. Developers face errors and exceptions in Python even though they’ve spent 3 to 4 years with it. Simply put, you can never master Python, however, practice makes a man perfect, so go out there, learn the concepts and build projects.

So, you’ve made up your mind to learn Python but are facing issues with what resources to follow. Having a structured course and a personal mentor to learn Python can prove to be beneficial in long run. Check out our 1:1 course on Python taught by industry experts working in unicorns like Flipkart and master Python.

Once you’ve gone through the Python introduction, it’s time to gear up and build amazing projects using Python. However, what projects add value to your skill set? Get your hands on a comprehensive list of 50 beginner-level projects that add value to your resume and help you understand the most fundamental concepts of Python and master it. Check out our blog now!