Overview

If you’re new to coding or just curious about Python, here’s the quick version. Python is a super popular programming language that’s easy to read, works almost anywhere, and comes with a ton of built-in tools. You can do a lot with it before ever installing anything extra — kind of like buying a phone that already has all the apps you need.

Why Learn Python?

• It’s easy to read and write — perfect for beginners but powerful enough for big projects.
• You can use it for just about anything: websites, data, automation, AI, testing, and more.
• There are loads of packages on PyPI that make your life easier.
• It’s in high demand in tons of industries.
• The community is friendly, and the docs are clear — start with docs.python.org.
• You can test stuff quickly in the Python shell before turning it into full programs.

What Python Code Looks Like

# Simple, clean code that makes sense def greet(name, hour):
    if 5 <= hour < 12:
        return f"Good morning, {name}!"
    else:
        return f"Hello, {name}!" print(greet("Ada", 9))

Where Python Is Used

• Working with data and machine learning: think NumPy, pandas, TensorFlow, and PyTorch.
• Building websites: Django, Flask, FastAPI all run on Python.
• Automating boring stuff like file sorting or reports.
• Creating REST APIs or async services.
• Science and visualising data with Matplotlib, SciPy, and Jupyter.
• Building games, desktop tools, or even working with hardware using PyGame, Kivy, or MicroPython.

Python Versions

• Use Python 3 — grab the latest version from python.org/downloads. Python 2 isn’t supported anymore.
• The main version most people use is CPython. But there are others too like PyPy for speed, or MicroPython if you’re doing hardware stuff.

Helpful Resources

• Get started with the official tutorial: docs.python.org/3/tutorial
• Explore what Python can do in the standard library: docs.python.org/3/library
• Write clean code with the style guide: peps.python.org/pep-0008
• Need the latest version? Download it here: python.org/downloads

What You’ll Do Next

Next up, we’ll set up your Python environment, show you how to use the interactive shell, and run your first scripts. You’ll be writing small programs before you know it — and actually understanding what’s going on.