Getting Started with Python

---

Video Lecture

In previous chapter we have learned how to install and setup the python environment in different platforms.

This chapter will explain how to write and execute python program.

Now there are various ways to start Python.

1. Python Shell ( REPL) / Interactive Mode

A shell is usually an "interactive shell", usually termed a REPL which stands for "Read - Evaluate - Print - Loop" Most interpreted languages offer a REPL interface.

It allows us to execute python code from the shell and shows output immediately.

How to start python shell ?

To start python shell

ON windows open the command prompt and type python and press enter, it will start python shell session.

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.17134.48]
(c) 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\prowessapps>python 
Python 3.6.5 (v3.6.5:f59c0932b4, Mar 28 2018, 16:07:46) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

>>>  this denotes you are in python shell

ON Linux / Mac open the terminal and type python3 and press enter, it will start python shell session.

prowessapps@ubuntu:~$ python3 
Python 3.5.2 (default, Nov 23 2017, 16:37:01) 
[GCC 5.4.0 20160609] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

>>>  this denotes you are in python shell

To quit the python command line ( shell ) interface type the command exit():

Let's understand how to use python shell for coding

You can use python shell to run your code without creating any external source file.

So, just look at the code snippet and understand :

# To print use print( ) function

>>> print("Hello World")
Hello World    OUTPUT

# To evaluate an expression
>>> 2 + 3
5         OUTPUT

>>> a = 2  Variable Declaration
>>> b = 3
>>> c = a + b 
>>> print (c)
5
>>> print("SUM =",c)  print output with concatenation variable
SUM = 5

---

2. Script Mode

This mode is used to execute Python program written in a file. Such a file is called a python script.
Python scripts have the extension .py, meaning that the filename ends with .py.

Create the python script:

Open the text editor.

Type the following code and save the file with name "first.py"

You can save your file at any location in your system, for this example file is saved at Desktop.

# SAVE FILE : first.py

print("Hello World")
a = 10
b = 20
c = a + b
print("SUM =",c)

Run the script :

Open the terminal ( Command Prompt) and change the working directory to that location where you have saved your source file.

In this example case, file location is Desktop

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.17134.48]
(c) 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\prowessApps>cd Desktop

C:\Users\prowessapps\Desktop>
                    

For running script type the command

On windows

python scriptFileName

On Linux / Mac

python3 scriptFileName

C:\Users\prowessapps\Desktop>python first.py 
Hello World
SUM = 30

---

3. Using IDLE (Integrated development and learning environment)

IDLE is Python’s Integrated Development and Learning Environment, which has been bundled with the default implementation of the language.

To open IDLE type idle in search box of all program menu as you search any program like word, excel etc.. and open it.

IDLE by default opens in shell mode.

In IDLE you can direct create a python script file and run it.

To do this follow the following step :

STEP 1: click on file menu option and choose 'New File'

STEP 2: write your python code and save it.

STEP 3: press 'F5' to run script.

---

4. PyCharm IDE

Another way to create and run python code is by using PyCharm IDE

PyCharm is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) used in computer programming, specifically for the Python language. It is developed by the Czech company JetBrains.

---

PREV
Python installation NEXT
Python keywords