Concept of Python

Python is a high-level, interpreted, and general-purpose programming language known for its simplicity and readability.

• It was created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991.

• It supports multiple programming paradigms such as procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming.

Why Python?

• Easy to Learn and Use: Python has a simple syntax that is easy to understand, making it ideal for beginners.
• Interpreted Language: Python code is executed line by line, which makes debugging easier.
• Cross-Platform: Python runs on various platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.
• Dynamically Typed: You don’t need to declare variable types explicitly.
• Large Standard Library: Python comes with a rich set of libraries for various tasks.
• Supports Multiple Paradigms: Python supports procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming.

Python is widely used for:

• Web Development (Django, Flask)
• Data Science and Machine Learning (NumPy, Pandas, TensorFlow)
• Automation and Scripting
• Game Development (Pygame)
• Desktop Applications (Tkinter, PyQt)
• Scientific Computing
• Networking

Installing and Running Python:

Installing Python:

• Download the latest version of Python from the official website: python.org.
• Run the installer and follow the instructions.
• Ensure you check the option to Add Python to PATH during installation.

Running Python:

• Interactive Shell: Launch Python from the terminal/command prompt and type commands interactively.
• Console/Script Mode: Write Python scripts in a .py file and execute them via the terminal using python filename.py.

Using IDLE:

IDLE is Python’s built-in Integrated Development and Learning Environment. It comes pre-installed with Python and provides a simple interface for writing, executing, and debugging Python code.

Features:

• Interactive Shell (REPL) for running Python commands
• Simple text editor with syntax highlighting
• Debugging tools with breakpoints
• Basic auto-completion

Example:

• To open IDLE, simply type idle in the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) after installing Python.

Using IDE:

An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a software application that provides advanced tools for writing, testing, and debugging code efficiently.

Features of an IDE:

• Code editor with syntax highlighting and auto-completion
• Debugging tools
• Integrated terminal
• Project management support
• Version control integration (like Git)

Popular Python IDEs:

• PyCharm – Feature-rich IDE by JetBrains
• VS Code – Lightweight, highly customizable
• Jupyter Notebook – Used for data science and machine learning
• Spyder – Best for scientific computing

Installing Third-Party Libraries:

A third-party library is an external package that extends Python’s functionality beyond its standard library. These libraries are developed by the Python community and can be installed using pip.

Examples of Popular Third-Party Libraries:

• NumPy – For numerical computing
• Pandas – For data manipulation
• Matplotlib – For data visualization
• Requests – For handling HTTP requests
• Django – For web development

Using pip, you can install any third-party library:

pip install numpy

Working with Virtual Environment:

A Virtual Environment in Python is an isolated workspace where you can install dependencies separately from the global Python installation.

• This allows different projects to have their own specific libraries and versions, preventing conflicts between dependencies.

Steps to Create a Virtual Environment:

1.) Install the virtualenv package:

pip install virtualenv

2.) Create a virtual environment:

virtualenv myenv

3.) Activate the virtual environment:

myenv\Scripts\activate