Beginner’s Guide to Python Programming – Part 1

Look, I’m going to be straight with you about Python. Everyone says it’s “beginner-friendly” – and they’re right, but not for the reasons you think. It’s not because Python holds your hand (though it kind of does). It’s because Python doesn’t make you jump through ridiculous hoops just to print “Hello World.”

Let me walk you through this without the usual tech tutorial fluff.

Why Learn Python Programming?

Python runs half the internet. Netflix uses it. Google practically lives on it. Instagram? Yep, Python. But here’s the thing – you’re not building Instagram tomorrow. You’re learning to think like a programmer, and Python just happens to be excellent at not getting in your way while you do it.

Step 1: Installing Python on Your Computer

Check What You’ve Got First

Before downloading anything, let’s see if Python’s already lurking on your machine:

Windows folks:

python --version

Mac/Linux people:

python3 --version

If you get a version number, great. If you get an error… well, that’s why we’re here.

The Actual Download Dance

1. Hit up python.org/downloads
2. Grab Python 3.12 (or whatever’s the latest stable – I’m not psychic about future versions)
3. Run the installer like a normal human being
4. Windows users: Check that “Add Python to PATH” box or you’ll hate yourself later

Did It Work?

python3 --version

See a version number? You’re golden. If not… well, Google is your friend for the weird edge cases.

Step 2: Your First Python Program

Method 1: The Interactive Shell (My Personal Favorite)

Type python3 in your terminal. Boom – you’re in the Python playground:

>>> print("I'm actually programming!")
I'm actually programming!
>>> 5 + 7
12
>>> "Hello" + " " + "World"
'Hello World'
>>> exit()

That’s it. You just wrote Python. Was that anticlimactic? Good – programming shouldn’t feel like rocket science.

Method 2: Creating Real Files (Because You’re Not Savage)

Here’s where beginners get lost – and trust me, I’ve been there. You create a file, try to run it, and Python acts like it doesn’t exist. Let me save you the frustration.

Step 1: Know Where You Are

Open your terminal and type:

pwd

This shows your current directory. You’re probably in something like /Users/yourname (Mac) or C:\Users\yourname(Windows).

Step 2: Create Your Python File (In a Place You Can Find)

I recommend creating a folder for your Python projects. Do this:

mkdir python_projects
cd python_projects
pwd

Now you’re in /Users/yourname/python_projects (or Windows equivalent). This is where you’ll create your file.

Make a file called my_first_disaster.py and type this text.

print("Welcome to my coding journey!")
print("This is surprisingly less terrifying than I expected")

Step 3: The File Location Reality Check

Save your file in the SAME FOLDER your terminal is currently in. If your terminal shows you’re in python_projects, save the file there. Not on your Desktop. Not in Downloads. Right there.

Step 4: Run It (From the Right Place)

python3 my_first_disaster.py

If Python Says “File Not Found”:

Your terminal and your file are in different places. Here’s the fix:

1. Check where your terminal is: pwd
2. List files in current directory: ls (Mac/Linux) or dir (Windows)
3. Don’t see your file? Navigate to where you saved it:bashcd Desktop # if you saved it on Desktop # or cd Downloads # if you saved it in Downloads
4. Try running it again

Pro Tip: Create a dedicated folder for Python stuff and always cd into it before creating files. Your future self will thank you.

Congratulations – you’ve joined the ranks of people who make computers do things (and know where their files are).

Step 3: Setting Up Your Development Environment

Editor Recommendations (Without the Sales Pitch)

Visual Studio Code – Free, doesn’t suck, has Python support. Install the Python extension and you’re set.

PyCharm Community – More features, steeper learning curve. Pick your poison.

I use VS Code because I’m basic like that, and it works. Your mileage may vary.

Python Syntax Fundamentals

Python was designed by someone who actually cares about readability. Revolutionary concept, I know.

Comments (Talk to Your Future Self)

# Future me will thank present me for this comment
print("Hello!")  # Or curse me for this obvious one
"""
Multi-line comments for when I need to
explain why I did something questionable
"""

Variables (Finally, Storage That Makes Sense)

# Numbers
age = 28
bank_account = 42.50  # Optimistic
debt = -1000  # Realistic
# Text
name = "Alex"
mood = "caffeinated"
# True/False stuff
is_learning = True
understands_everything = False  # Honest self-assessment

Naming Rules (Because Python Has Standards):

• Use snake_case (like my_variable)
• No spaces, no hyphens, no starting with numbers
• Don’t use Python’s reserved words (like if, while, class)

# Good
user_name = "Sam"
total_cost = 29.99
# Bad (and Python will yell at you)
2fast = "nope"
user-name = "also nope"

Data Types: The Building Blocks

Numbers (Math, But Friendlier)

# Whole numbers
students_in_class = 25
temperature = -5
# Decimal numbers
pi = 3.14159
my_gpa = 3.7  # Totally real
# Math that actually works
result = 10 + 5    # 15
result = 20 / 4    # 5.0 (always gives you a decimal)
result = 2 ** 3    # 8 (that's 2 to the power of 3)

Strings (Text Wrangling)

first_name = "Sarah"
last_name = "Connor"
life_motto = "I'll be back"
# Combining strings (concatenation, if you want to be fancy)
full_name = first_name + " " + last_name
repeated_hello = "Hello " * 3  # "Hello Hello Hello "
# Useful string tricks
email = "[email protected]"
print(email.lower())  # "[email protected]"
print(len(email))     # 15 characters

Booleans (True or False, No Middle Ground)

is_raining = True
is_sunny = False
is_confused = True  # Probably accurate
# Logic operations
print(True and False)  # False
print(True or False)   # True
print(not True)        # False
# Comparisons give you booleans
age = 25
can_rent_car = age >= 25  # True

Lists (Collections for Organized People)

# Making lists
groceries = ["milk", "bread", "existential dread"]
lucky_numbers = [7, 13, 42]
random_stuff = ["hello", 42, True, 3.14]
# Accessing items (starts at 0 because programmers are weird)
first_item = groceries[0]      # "milk"
last_item = groceries[-1]      # "existential dread"
# Modifying lists
groceries.append("coffee")     # Add to end
groceries.remove("bread")      # Remove specific item
print(groceries)  # ['milk', 'existential dread', 'coffee']

Real Examples (Because Theory Is Boring)

Personal Info Display

name = "Jamie Smith"
age = 32
city = "Portland"
has_pets = True
print(f"Meet {name}")
print(f"Age: {age}")
print(f"Lives in: {city}")
print(f"Has pets: {has_pets}")

Simple Calculator (That Actually Calculates)

first_number = 15
second_number = 7

print(f"{first_number} + {second_number} = {first_number + second_number}")
print(f"{first_number} - {second_number} = {first_number - second_number}")
print(f"{first_number} * {second_number} = {first_number * second_number}")
print(f"{first_number} / {second_number} = {first_number / second_number}")

Shopping List Manager

shopping_list = ["apples", "bread", "mysterious items I'll forget"]

# Add more stuff
shopping_list.append("ice cream")
shopping_list.append("regret")

# Show the list
print("Today's shopping adventure:")
for index, item in enumerate(shopping_list, 1):
    print(f"{index}. {item}")

print(f"Total items to forget: {len(shopping_list)}")

Mistakes I’ve Made (So You Don’t Have To)

1. Indentation matters – Python uses spaces/tabs to understand your code structure
2. Quotes are picky – Pick single or double quotes and stick with them
3. Capitalization counts – Name and name are different variables
4. Missing colons – You’ll need them after if statements and loops

What’s Next?

You now know enough Python to be dangerous. Next up: conditional statements (if/else), loops (for/while), and functions. You know, the stuff that makes your code actually do interesting things.

Quick Practice (Because I’m Not Your Mom, But…)

Try these if you want to solidify what you’ve learned:

1. Create variables for your favorite movie details
2. Make a list of your top 5 songs
3. Calculate how many hours are in a week (hint: 7 days × 24 hours)
4. Build a simple “About Me” program

The Real Talk Conclusion

Python isn’t magic – it’s just well-designed. You’ve learned installation, basic syntax, and data types. That’s legitimately the foundation of everything else you’ll do.

In Part 2, I’ll cover the control flow stuff (if/else, loops, functions) that’ll make your programs actually useful instead of just educational.

Keep coding, keep caffeinated, and remember – everyone was a beginner once.

More Python content coming soon. Because apparently I have opinions about programming tutorials.