Getting to Know Python
A 101 Guide to Your First Steps into Python Programming
If you’re tech-enthusiastic, there’s an 80–90% chance you’ve already heard of Python.
Python is a very popular programming language, and we will be taking a deep dive into what the language offers and why you should start your career in tech with it.
So, without further ado,
Why Python?
A very obvious first question. A lot of people have told you Python is great, but you are still not convinced. Well, let’s see what makes Python the top-tier language.
Python is a popular language for web and software development because you can create complex applications while maintaining a concise and readable syntax.
Python’s Strong Points
- Python is easy to learn and has an active supportive community. There is rarely a problem you’ll encounter in Python that would be a first on the internet because a lot of people use the language, which is reflected in the availability of many resources for you whenever you get stuck.
- Python is flexible and suits many use cases. As we will discuss later in this article, Python can be used for a whole lot, from versatile web solutions to data science and analysis, Python does it all.
- Python is efficient, fast, and reliable. Wait a minute! I thought Python was one of the slower languages. Well, that is a relative conclusion and Python does have lower running speeds compared to C++, Java and Go. However, this is not as important in the solutions today because faster development time is preferred over the bonus running speed. Writing code in Python makes the development process significantly easier and more efficient. In fact, at Google, Python is used to write code where it is possible to use it and C++ is only used in cases where speed of execution is a priority.
- Python is an academic programming language. Thanks to its wide range of applications, Python is adopted in schools to make computing concepts practical.
Key Features of Python
- It is free and open source. Anyone with adequate programming knowledge could become a contributor to Python, helping to fix bugs, make optimisations and even add new features to the language. This paves the way for faster updates and a better language ecosystem. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be a Python contributor as well.
- It has a robust standard library. Aside from the awesome third-party libraries that can be easily integrated into Python, Python comes built-in with some libraries that really pack a punch. These libraries help make network requests, manage system processes and create GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces).
- It is an interpreted language. We are about to get a tad bit technical. Imagine you are visiting a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. You have a friend who translates everything for you in real time. Interpreted languages work similarly. Instead of translating the entire code into machine language before running it, like in compiled languages, an interpreter translates and executes the code line by line as it’s being read. If you would like to find out more about Interpreted and Compiled Languages, read this article.
- It is portable. I can tell you first-hand, that Python is the easiest language to get up and running on your computer. It doesn’t take up so much space and you can install the language on external drives and plug it in when you need it.
- It is Object-Oriented and Functional. These are two very important concepts when looking at how code is structured, and Python supports them both. While the Object-Oriented approach emphasizes classes and methods, the Functional approach focuses on functions.
- It is extensible and expressive. A piece of Python code, if written correctly, can be extended or reused elsewhere and Python is one of the few languages that can be read in an almost lingual form.
- It is dynamically typed. This is the core feature of Python that sets it apart from other languages, although with negatives and positives. Dynamically typed languages allow variables to change their data type on the fly, giving developers flexibility but also giving way to error-prone code.
Who Uses Python and Why?
Where Developers and Data Scientists go, Python will follow — and startups hire a lot of both. Tech startups are drawn to how scalable the language is.
According to the 2023 Developer Survey, Python is the second most commonly used programming language, behind JavaScript with 49.28% of developers using Python.
Python is used by large companies like Intel, IBM, NASA, Pixar, Netflix, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, PayPal, Spotify and Google.
It is one of the four main languages (C++, Go, Java, Python) at Google for a reason.
“Python has been an important part of Google since the beginning and remains so as the system grows and evolves. Today, dozens of Google engineers use Python, and we are looking for more people with skill in this language” — Peter Norvig, a Computer Scientist and Director of Research at Google.
Common Applications of Python
Web Development
Python is a programming language that can be utilized to develop web applications quickly. The reason behind this is the frameworks that Python employs to build these applications.
There is a shared backend logic that is utilized in the creation of these frameworks, as well as numerous libraries that can assist in integrating some valuable features and aid in the processing of JSON, XML, E-Mail, and much more. Some of the most well-known frameworks used in Python are Django, Flask, and Pyramid.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are currently the most talked-about topics in terms of promising careers for the future.
Essentially, we teach computers to learn based on past experiences by using data stores or by creating algorithms that enable the computer to learn on its own. There are numerous libraries available in the Python ecosystem, such as Pandas, Scikit-Learn, NumPy, and many others, that make it easier to implement these techniques.
Data Science and Data Visualization
Data is valuable if you know how to extract relevant information from it, which can help you make informed decisions and increase profits.
Libraries such as NumPy and Pandas can be used to extract this information, and once you have the data, you can use visualization tools such as Matplotlib, Plotly, or Altair to gain deeper insights into it. Python can also be easily integrated into popular Data Analysis tools like Power BI.
Web Scraping Utilities
Python is a great tool for extracting large amounts of data from websites. This data can be used for various real-world applications such as job listings, comparison, research, and development. Python has several tools that can be used for this, including Beautiful Soup, Scrapy, and Requests.
System Automation
This is my favourite application of Python because it is useful in a lot of areas.
In today’s business world, automation plays a crucial role in meeting market requirements. Python is an essential tool for system administrators and developers as it enables automation of a wide range of tasks.
These tasks include network monitoring and security automation, scheduling of tasks and workflow, and file and directory operations.
By combining Python with a shell scripting language like PowerShell or Bash, users may never have to repeat a task on their computer.
Where Can I Learn Python?
Well, you can learn Python just about anywhere but of course, some resources have proven to produce the best results for beginners.
Let’s look at each category of learning resources and find something that suits you.
Text-Based Courses
For those who prefer reading through the concepts and practising along on their computer, these courses will offer you the best value:
Programiz.com Python Tutorial
They do a really good job of going through every single thing you need to know as a Python beginner and then take you through intermediate concepts and a few advanced ones as well.
W3Schools Python Tutorial
W3Schools is a popular learning resource for various languages for a reason. It provides simplified documentation on Python, and you can code along right in the browser.
YouTube Courses
Is there anything you can’t learn on YouTube? Well, you can learn how to write Python code on YouTube. Let’s look at the channels and playlists that offer the best content for a Python beginner.
Microsoft Learn Python for Beginners
Look no further than Microsoft Learn’s playlist on Python to get through the basics while getting helpful tips from industry experts.
Harvard CS50x Python
In this two-hour video, David Malan from Harvard walks you through important Python concepts, enough for you to stand on your own and explore some more advanced tutorials. I would recommend this tutorial to those ready to explore Computer Science and in that case, take the entire 10-week course which is also available on YouTube.
The Codex Python Tutorial by Avinash Jain
Avinash was quite young when he created the first version of this tutorial so trust me when I tell you that he really puts himself in your shoes. The revised version of the tutorial gives you a solid foundation as a Python Developer and he even has some intermediate videos in case you want to go further.
Coursera Courses
Over the past few years, Coursera has been behind most of my learning of languages, libraries and frameworks. You get access to amazing courses, with videos, notes, quizzes, and certificates (if you enrol for the course as a paid student). But even if you can’t afford to pay for a certificate, many courses are available on audit.
Crash Course on Python | Coursera
In my opinion, this is the best-taught Python course you could find. It is taught by staff at Google. The demonstrations, alongside animations and a wonderful tutor, make for a wonderful learning experience. Once you are done with the course you will be ready to take the next big step in Python.
Programming in Python | Coursera
This course by Meta offers an exceptional learning experience and takes you through everything you need to know as a Python beginner and a few intermediate concepts are discussed as well.
Roundup
In this comprehensive guide to Python, we’ve explored why Python is such a compelling language for beginners and seasoned developers alike. Python’s readability, flexibility, and efficiency make it a top choice for a wide range of applications, from web development to data science and beyond.
One of Python’s key strengths lies in its extensive community support and rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks, making it easy to find resources and solutions to almost any programming problem. Its popularity is reflected not only in its widespread adoption by tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Netflix but also in its prominence in the developer community, as evidenced by the 2023 Developer Survey.
We’ve delved into some common applications of Python, such as web development, machine learning, data science, web scraping, and system automation, showcasing its versatility and relevance across various industries.
Moreover, we’ve provided insights into where and how to learn Python, highlighting text-based courses, YouTube tutorials, and Coursera certifications, catering to diverse learning preferences and needs.
Whether you’re just starting your programming journey or looking to expand your skill set, Python stands out as a language that is not only powerful and practical but also accessible and well-supported. So why wait?
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. If you found it helpful and informative, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out. Also, if you enjoyed the article, a clap would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again!
