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Tutorial 1

This document provides an introduction to computing with Python. It discusses paths and directories, how to open the Anaconda Command Prompt, basics of Python 3 including input/output functions and the Spyder IDE. It also introduces problem solving approaches.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
84 views

Tutorial 1

This document provides an introduction to computing with Python. It discusses paths and directories, how to open the Anaconda Command Prompt, basics of Python 3 including input/output functions and the Spyder IDE. It also introduces problem solving approaches.

Uploaded by

1022gxr
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 49

TUTORIAL 1

234128 – Introduction to
Computing with Python

Written and edited by Bronislav Demin


Today
• Paths and Directories
• Anaconda Command Prompt
• Python 3
• Input\Output
• Spyder IDE
• Problem Solving

2
Before you continue:
It is recommended to install Anaconda through the guide on
Moodle

3
PATHS AND DIRECTORIES

4
Operating System (OS)
• Every computer must have an operating system, from super
computers to personal computers and cellular phones.
• An Operating System is a Computer Program like any other.
• It offers various services and “Quality of life” improvements for the
human user:
• Handling files, input/output devices.
• Multitasking – Running multiple programs and applications at once.
• Having various built-in utilities: Browser, calculator, sketch board, etc.

5
Data Organization
• Data is stored inside a computer as a sequence of bits.
• Every file is a sequence of bits.
• A computer holds large number of different files (hundreds of
thousands and more)

How to organize all this data? Memory


Files
Data
0101100

6
Files
• A file is addressed by a filename.
• Filenames are composed of name dot extension: Name
. Extension

• With what file types are you familiar with?

• For example: my_file.doc


• The file extension defines the type of content inside the file:
- Text and Word files (.txt .doc)
- Images (.gif .jpg .bmp .png)
- Media (.avi .mpg .mp3 .mp4 .wav)
- Programs (.exe) A collection of commands
stored as Machine Code

7
Directory Structure
Main partition, or the “root” of the
C: disk. Marked with letter and colon

home my pictures song.mp3

ex2.py ex1.py
progs
my_dog.jpg my_cat.gif It’s common to display files and
partitions as a tree diagram

ex1.txt ex1.py

8
Path
C:

home my pictures song.mp3

ex2.py ex1.py my_dog.jpg my_cat.gif


progs

The path to this ex1.py file is:


ex1.ipynb ex1.py
C:\home\progs\ex1.py
We use the “\” separator between different
subfolders
9
ANACONDA PROMPT

10
Anaconda Prompt
• Press Start
• Find Anaconda3
• Find and launch Anaconda Prompt

11
Anaconda Prompt
• The command Prompt is another way to interact with the operating
system.
• To change color, font size:

• Alt+Enter for full screen.


Right Click on the top
bar → Properties

12
Current Directory
• When opening the command prompt, it is waiting for instructions.
• The current working directory is always visible:

• After typing a command, we press Enter for execution.


13
Change Directory
• To change the current working directory, use the cd name command:
• “cd” – short for change directory
• name – the name of the folder

• To go back one level, use cd.. command:

• You can go to the root folder by using cd..


command multiple times:

14
Errors
• What if we try to change to a directory which doesn’t exist?

• We got an Error
• That’s fine and expected. We can continue typing commands as
usual.

15
Directory Contents
• To view the contents of a directory simply type the command dir:

16
Lower/Upper Case?
• You can type cd, CD, cD, or Cd. Any combination will work.
• Windows OS doesn’t distinguish between upper-case and lower-case
letters.
• Later in the course we will see that in some cases, it DOES make a
difference.
• Particularly, in Python:

17
PYTHON 3
What is Python?
• Python is a high-level general purpose programming language.
• Known for its vast selection of standard and 3rd-party libraries
• Commonly used for:
• Scientific uses (Free Matlab\Excel alternative)
• Data Analysis and Visualization
• Web Development
• Computer Vision
• Machine Learning
• Scripting and Automation

19
Python REPL
• REPL (Read Evaluate Print Loop) – Python command entry and output
display.
• Type python in the Anaconda Prompt to launch the Python REPL:

• You can experiment freely with Python code inside the REPL.
• Press CTRL+Z and Enter to return to the Anaconda Prompt.
20
My First Program
• The print function tells the computer to print what is inside the
quotes.
• By default, the function adds a new line after the printed text.

21
Running a Program
• Instead of running single commands, we can run a whole program
through Python.
• A program is simply a collection of instructions, stored as text.
• To run a Python program inside the Anaconda Prompt use:

python my_program.py

• python – run the following program through the Python Interpreter


• my_program.py – the name of the program you want to run
22
INPUT/OUTPUT
Input/Output

Output
device program
Input device

Displaying output Feeding input

• A program can receive information from the user as input.


• A program can display information for the user as output.
• The keyboard and the display are the default means for input and output.
24
Input/Output
• Sometimes we want to get
input from the user.
• We can use the input()
function in Python.
• This function can include
helpful text to be displayed for
the user.
• As seen before, for output
we can use the print function.
The computer is
Our typed waiting for keyboard
input input
25
Input/Output Redirection
• It is possible to send/receive input/output to/from a Python
program via text files. This is called Input/Output Redirection.
• The main use (in this course) of this will be in the homework
assignments.
• You will receive text files which include input to be used in your
programs with expected output.
• After creating the program, you will check if your resulting output
matches the expected output.
• This will help you avoid typing the input every time you want you
check your program (especially if the input is long) and save time.
26
Input From File
• Consider our simple program:

• Let’s assume this program is stored inside a file called tut1.py


• By using input redirection, we can supply input to this program from
an external text file. Here is the input file in.txt:

• You can create this file by using Notepad or any other way.

27
Input From File
• To redirect the input into our program, we will run our program via
the Anaconda Prompt in a specific way:
• After the name of the program, we will add: < in.txt
Take input from
in.txt

The program displayed


output without requiring
typed input
28
Input From File
• Similarly, we can redirect output from a program to an external file.
• After the name of the program, we will add: > out.txt
Send output to
out.txt

Typed input is redirected


into out.txt

• out.txt will be created automatically:


29
Why Not Both?
• We can combine both methods to redirect input/output to/from text
files:
Send output to Get input from
out.txt in.txt

• Notice that the program ran without typing input or displaying any
output. This is due to redirection!

30
Input/Output Redirection Summary
• Reading input from input.txt instead of the keyboard:
python example.py < input.txt

• Writing output to output.txt text file:


python example.py > output.txt

• Combining both (order doesn’t matter):


python example.py < in.txt > out.txt
python example.py > out.txt < in.txt
SPYDER
Spyder
• Anaconda – A simple installation package for Python.
• IDE (Integrated Development Environment) – is special software
made of tools for building and developing software. Basically, a fancy
text-editor.
• In this course we will use Spyder IDE through the Anaconda
platform.

33
Spyder: Editor

34
Spyder: Editor
• The Spyder Editor is where we
type code or create programs
• It is similar in nature to Notepad or
Word. Code is nothing more but text!
• You can work on multiple files at
once
The Spyder Editor includes useful
functionality:
• Syntax highlighting
• Linting – automatic check for errors
• Debugging – will be discussed later in
the course.
• And more…
35
Spyder: Editor
• Change font size quickly (works
also in Anaconda Prompt):
First make sure the editor window is
selected. Hold CTRL on the
keyboard and rotate the mouse
wheel (or swipe up/down on the
trackpad with two fingers)
• Change themes, colors and design:

36
Spyder: Console

37
Spyder: Console
• The Spyder Console is similar in
nature to what we did in the
Command Prompt.
• It acts as an IPython Console
and a Command Prompt.
• You can type various commands,
run programs and execute Python
code.
• It is encouraged to experiment
as much as you can!

38
Spyder: Help

39
Spyder: Help
• You can search various keywords (functions, commands, modules, etc)
and receive detailed information.
• Useful for exploring additional functionality or refresh your memory if
you forgot something.

40
Spyder: Variable Explorer

41
Spyder: Variable Explorer
• The Variable Explorer keeps track of the current variables that are
stored in memory.
• Will help us tremendously with debugging later in the course.

42
STEPS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

234128 – Introduction to Computing with Python 43


Problem Solving: The Steps
• Understand the problem.
Identify the Input → Output

• Design an algorithm (a recipe) to


solve it

• Start coding

234128 – Introduction to Computing with Python 44


Problem Solving: Cashier
Example
Write a program which acts as a Cashier:

• Receives a series of purchases

• Prints the current total

• Tells the cashier to go home when the total reaches over $1000

234128 – Introduction to Computing with Python 45


Problem Solving: Algorithm
1. Define a counter which keeps track of the current sum.
sum=0

2. Get the cost as input


Add the cost to the sum Get x
Display the sum sum = sum+x
Print sum

3. If the sum is smaller than $1000, repeat


yes
sum<1000?

4. If not, display “Go Home!” no


Print ‘Go Home!’

234128 – Introduction to Computing with Python 46


Problem Solving: Code
Example:
Write a program which
receives a series of purchases,
prints the current total and
tells the cashier to go home
when the total reaches over
$1000.

234128 – Introduction to Computing with Python 47


Actual Coding and Debugging?

Next
Week….

234128 – Introduction to Computing with Python 48


49

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