This document provides an introduction to the Python programming language. It discusses that Python is an open source, high-level, dynamic typed language with a standard distribution of modules. It can be compiled or run just-in-time and interfaces with COM and open source GIS toolsets. The document then discusses why Python is preferable to other languages for GIS tasks and provides overviews of Python interfaces like IDLE and modules. It provides examples of basic Python code and discusses objects, strings, lists, tuples, dictionaries, conditionals, loops, files and error handling in Python.