Python® Programming: Introduction
Course Description Overview
In this course, you will develop simple command-line programs in Python.
You will:
- Set up Python and develop a simple application.
- Declare and perform operations on simple data types, including strings, numbers, and dates.
- Declare and perform operations on data structures, including lists, ranges, tuples, dictionaries, and sets.
- Write conditional statements and loops.
- Define and use functions, classes, and modules.
- Manage files and directories through code.
- Deal with exceptions.
It is recommended, but not required, that you have at least six months experience programming in an object-oriented language. Even if you don't, this course can be useful to those that are new to programming.
To ensure your success in the course, you should have at least a foundational knowledge of personal computer use. You can obtain this level of skills and knowledge by taking either of the following United States Career Campus courses, or have equivalent experience:
- Using Microsoft® Windows® 8.1
- Microsoft® Windows® 8.1: Transition from Windows® 7
- Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista (64-bit).
This course was successfully keyed on Windows 10. Some activity steps may not key exactly as written if students key on a different version of Windows.
- Python version 3.4.2 (python-3.4.2.amd64.msi).
- PyCharm Community Edition version 3.4.1 (pycharm-community-3.4.1.exe).
Both Python and PyCharm are distributed with the course data files. Python is distributed under the Python Software Foundation License (PSFL). PyCharm Community Edition is distributed under the Apache License 2.0.
- If necessary, software for viewing the course slides. (Instructor machine only.)
For this course, you will need one computer for each student and one for the instructor. Each computer will need the following minimum hardware configurations:
- 1 GHz or faster 64-bit (x64) processor
- 2 gigabyte (GB) RAM
- 30 GB available hard disk space
- Keyboard and mouse (or other pointing device)
- 1,024 x 768 resolution monitor recommended
- Projection system to display the instructor's computer screen
Lesson 1: Setting Up Python and Developing a Simple Application
Topic A: Set Up the Development Environment
Topic B: Write Python Statements
Topic C: Create a Python Application
Topic D: Prevent Errors
Lesson 2: Processing Simple Data Types
Topic A: Process Strings and Integers
Topic B: Process Decimals, Floats, and Mixed Number Types
Lesson 3: Processing Data Structures
Topic A: Process Ordered Data Structures
Topic B: Process Unordered Data Structures
Lesson 4: Writing Conditional Statements and Loops in Python
Topic A: Write a Conditional Statement
Topic B: Write a Loop
Lesson 5: Structuring Code for Reuse
Topic A: Define and Call a Function
Topic B: Define and Instantiate a Class
Topic C: Import and Use a Module
Lesson 6: Writing Code to Process Files and Directories
Topic A: Write to a Text File
Topic B: Read from a Text File
Topic C: Get the Contents of a Directory
Topic D: Manage Files and Directories
Lesson 7: Dealing with Exceptions
Topic A: Handle Exceptions
Topic B: Raise Exceptions