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Small core, large library

Like Java, Python has a small compact core and a large, extensible library . Thus, much of what you will need to do has already been written and tested for you. Yourtask will be to write the code to glue those library components together, and to write new capabilities on an as-needed basis.

Let's Write a Program

Getting ready

Download and install the software

The first step is to go to (External Link) with your web browser. Download, and install the Python software using thedownload link that you will find there.

I'm going to assume that either you already know how to do this, or you can get help from a friend. In other words, I'm not going to try to explain how todownload and install the Python software.

Note: If you are working in an ACC computer lab on the Northridge campus, you don't need to download and install the Python software. It hasalready been installed. If you are working in an ACC computer lab on a different campus and you don't find the Python software, ask the lab manager to downloadand install it. If you are working on your computer at home, at some point you will need to download and install the Python software.

Starting the programming environment

As I mentioned earlier, all of my instructions will be based on the use of Python running on my Windows operating system.

However, as I also mentioned earlier, you have many choices for using Python. If you are running on some other platform, you will need to translate my instructionsfrom Windows jargon into the jargon of your platform.

Enough talk -- let's begin

Find the Start button on the task bar on your Windows desktop. Select

Start/All Programs/Python x.y

where x.y is the version of Python that you have downloaded and installed. At the time of this writing, I have version 3.4.1 installed on my computer, and theselection shows on the menu as Python 3.4.

What do you see?

When you make this selection, you should see a menu having at least the following five options :

  • IDLE (Python GUI)
  • Module Docs
  • Python (command line)
  • Python Manuals
  • Uninstall Python

The Python Manuals

Don't be bashful about selecting and reading the Module Docs and the Python Manuals. There is a wealth of information contained there, including a tutorial.

The library reference

A good way to get a feel for the breadth and power of Python is to select Python Manuals from the menu and then select the Library Reference link. (The Library Reference is also available online as of the time of this writing.)

Most of what you see there probably won't mean much to you at this point in time, but hopefully will be familiar territory after you complete this course.

IDLE (Python GUI)

Selecting IDLE (Python GUI) from the menu brings up a window titled "Python 3.4.1 Shell" on my computer. This is one of the interactive programming environments available with Python on MicrosoftWindows.

What does it look like ?

When you select IDLE (Python GUI) from the menu, you should see something like Figure 1 .

(Note to blind and visually impaired students: I don't know if you will find the Python Shell to be accessible. If not, don't worry. We will get to acommand-line version that should be accessible a little later.)

Questions & Answers

A golfer on a fairway is 70 m away from the green, which sits below the level of the fairway by 20 m. If the golfer hits the ball at an angle of 40° with an initial speed of 20 m/s, how close to the green does she come?
Aislinn Reply
cm
tijani
what is titration
John Reply
what is physics
Siyaka Reply
A mouse of mass 200 g falls 100 m down a vertical mine shaft and lands at the bottom with a speed of 8.0 m/s. During its fall, how much work is done on the mouse by air resistance
Jude Reply
Can you compute that for me. Ty
Jude
what is the dimension formula of energy?
David Reply
what is viscosity?
David
what is inorganic
emma Reply
what is chemistry
Youesf Reply
what is inorganic
emma
Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with the study of matter,it composition,it structure and the changes it undergoes
Adjei
please, I'm a physics student and I need help in physics
Adjanou
chemistry could also be understood like the sexual attraction/repulsion of the male and female elements. the reaction varies depending on the energy differences of each given gender. + masculine -female.
Pedro
A ball is thrown straight up.it passes a 2.0m high window 7.50 m off the ground on it path up and takes 1.30 s to go past the window.what was the ball initial velocity
Krampah Reply
2. A sled plus passenger with total mass 50 kg is pulled 20 m across the snow (0.20) at constant velocity by a force directed 25° above the horizontal. Calculate (a) the work of the applied force, (b) the work of friction, and (c) the total work.
Sahid Reply
you have been hired as an espert witness in a court case involving an automobile accident. the accident involved car A of mass 1500kg which crashed into stationary car B of mass 1100kg. the driver of car A applied his brakes 15 m before he skidded and crashed into car B. after the collision, car A s
Samuel Reply
can someone explain to me, an ignorant high school student, why the trend of the graph doesn't follow the fact that the higher frequency a sound wave is, the more power it is, hence, making me think the phons output would follow this general trend?
Joseph Reply
Nevermind i just realied that the graph is the phons output for a person with normal hearing and not just the phons output of the sound waves power, I should read the entire thing next time
Joseph
Follow up question, does anyone know where I can find a graph that accuretly depicts the actual relative "power" output of sound over its frequency instead of just humans hearing
Joseph
"Generation of electrical energy from sound energy | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore" ***ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7150687?reload=true
Ryan
what's motion
Maurice Reply
what are the types of wave
Maurice
answer
Magreth
progressive wave
Magreth
hello friend how are you
Muhammad Reply
fine, how about you?
Mohammed
hi
Mujahid
A string is 3.00 m long with a mass of 5.00 g. The string is held taut with a tension of 500.00 N applied to the string. A pulse is sent down the string. How long does it take the pulse to travel the 3.00 m of the string?
yasuo Reply
Who can show me the full solution in this problem?
Reofrir Reply
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Source:  OpenStax, Itse 1359 introduction to scripting languages: python. OpenStax CNX. Jan 22, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11713/1.32
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