Python 101: Ultimate Python Guide or Introduction to Modern Python
Tags: python, opensource, tutorial, productivity
Published: 2022-02-12 18:44:13

**What is Python?**

Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level built in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for Rapid Application Development.

**What makes python so popular?**
 - It is simple and easy to learn syntax.
 - Debugging Python programs is easy
 - increased productivity it provides
 - It’s beginner friendly.
 - It’s open source.
 - It’s versatile.
 - Python has a large and active community
 - It has archive of modules and libraries

**What types of jobs use Python?**
Since python is a general-purpose language, it’s used across a variety of fields and industries. These are just a few job titles that may use Python:

 - Developer
 - Data analyst
 - Data scientist
 - Ethical hacker/penetration tester
 - Software engineer
 - Data journalist
 - Cloud architect
 - QA engineer

**What is Python used for?**
 - developing websites and software
 - task automation
 - data analysis
 - data visualization
 - Software testing and prototyping


**Python installation steps**

1. Visit https://www.python.org/downloads/
2. Select your Operating system(Windows, Linux, MacOS)
3. Select the release or version, click on it to download.
4. Double click on the file to execute and install.
5. For window mark “add to system paths”
For more check on the [python documentation](https://docs.python.org/3) for more documentations.

**Let’s test our installed python**

1. Open Terminal on Linux or cmd on windows
2. Run the python --version command to check if you installed the correct version.
if python is installed, the output will be similar to as below:

```
C:\Users\UCHE>python --version
Python 3.9.7

C:\Users\UCHE>
```

we can now open python interpreter shell on the terminal with this command. the output will be similar to as below:

```
C:\Users\UCHE>python
Python 3.9.7 (tags/v3.9.7:1016ef3, Aug 30 2021, 20:19:38) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>
```

Our first code is to print hello world using python.
```
>>> print("Hello, World!")
Hello, World!
>>>
```
Next, lets read from user input, declare it in a variable and print

```
>>> name = input("enter your name: ")
enter your name: Bale
>>> print("hello, " + name)
hello, Bale
>>>
```
we can also use a code editor and IDEs(Integrated Development Environment) to write our python code.
Here are the list of best python IDEs and code editors

1. [PyCharm](https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/)
2. [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
3. [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/2)
4. [Atom](https://atom.io/)
5. [Jupyter Notebook](http://jupyter.org/)
6. [Eclipse + PyDev + LiClipse](https://www.eclipse.org/)
7. [Vim](https://www.vim.org/)
8. [GNU Emacs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/)
9. [Spyder](http://www.spyder-ide.org/)
10. [Thonny](http://thonny.org/)
11. [Komodo Edit](https://www.activestate.com/products/komodo-ide/)

 


## References

- https://www.coursera.org/articles/what-is-python-used-for-a-beginners-guide-to-using-python
- https://lzomedia.com/blog/python-101-introduction-to-modern-python/
- https://www.python.org/doc/essays/blurb/