APPLICATION LABORATORY II
Sherina Sally
Introduction to Python Department of ICT
Faculty of Technology,
University of Colombo
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Continuous Assessment: 40%
End Examination: 60%
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REFERENCES
How to think like a computer scientist: learning with Python / Allen Downey, Je®rey Elkner, Chris Meyers. ISBN 0-
9716775-0-6
Guttag, John. Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python: With Application to Understanding
Data. MIT Press, 2016. ISBN: 9780262529624
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OUTLINE
• History of Python
• Characteristics of Python
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• Flavors of Python
• Versions of Python
• Installing Python
• Working with Python
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INTRODUCTION TO PYTHON
• High-level language
• A general purpose language
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• Emphasizes on code readability and increase productivity
• Fewer code lines to write a program compared to languages as C, C++, Java, C#
• Free and Opensource
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HISTORY OF PYTHON
• Created by Guido van Rossum in late 1980’s
• Implementation started as a leisure project at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI)
• The first release was in 1991
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• A successor of the language ABC
• The name ‘Python’ was based on a favorite TV series of Guido
• Adopted the good features from ABC and introduced solutions to the flaws Guido van Rossum
The Story of Python, by Its Creator, Guido van Rossum
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CHARACTERISTICS OF PYTHON
• Platform independent
• Portable
• Procedural and object oriented
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• Dynamically typed: Data types are assigned to variables based on the value
• Interpreted: compilation doesn’t happen explicitly
• Embedded: Can include in other programming languages
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FLAVORS OF PYTHON
Types of compilers which integrates other programming languages into Python
Cpython Implemented in C
Jpython Python programs can be run on the Java platform
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PyPy A faster compiler implemented using the Python language
IronPython Compiler for the .NET platform. Implemented in C#
Anaconda Python Handles large scale of data processing
Ruby Python Embeds Python interpreter in Ruby application
Pythonxy Includes scientific and engineering related packages
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VERSIONS OF PYTHON
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Python
0.9 1.2
1991 1995
1.0 1.1 2.0
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1994 1994 2000
3.1
2.1 3.9
3.0 2009
2001 2020
2.7 2008
2.2 3.10
2010
2001 2021
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WHEN TO USE PYTHON?
Web
Development
Data Science
Engineering Applications
Applications
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Python
Business
Applications Scripting
Desktop
GUI
Applications
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INSTALLING PYTHON
• Windows/ Linux/ Mac OS : Download and Install Python to a PC
• Online Compiler: Online Python Compiler
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PYTHON SHELL
Execute python commands Execute Python scripts
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INTERACTIVE AND SCRIPT MODE
• Interactive mode
• Provides a quick method to execute code lines
• Preferred for short programs which expects faster results
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• Recommended for learning activities
• Script Mode
• Executes code written in a python file
• Modifying code is possible
• A separate file is created
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WORKING WITH THE INTERACTIVE SHELL
Command Description
C:\Users> python Starts the python shell
C:\Users> python --version
or Displays the Python version installed in the computer
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C:\Users> python -V
C:\Users> python test.py Executes the test.py script and displays the result
>>> quit()
or Exits from the Python shell and returns to the windows console
>>> Ctrl-Z
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IDE AND CODE EDITORS
• Provides syntax highlighting, code auto completion
• Code editors are light weighted than an IDE
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• IDEs consists of additional features used for development
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