Hello and welcome to Python 101 - Introduction to Python. This course is the first in a three-part series that includes Python 201 - Procedural Python and Python 301 - Object-Oriented Python. The Python Programming Series (101, 201, and 301) is generally a prerequisite for the following courses:
This course is intended as an introduction to Python. It is designed for people who are new to programming. The course attempts to explain the fundamentals as much as possible so that a complete beginner can pick up the course.
Info: If you already have experience with programming in another language and you want to learn Python, the progression of this course module might be too slow for you. Skim the content, and if you want, you can start immediately with the second module, Python 201 - Procedural Python.
You might want to work through the fundamentals of programming even if you have some experience and gain the benefits from repetition and training that are crucial to your learning process.
Course Progression
This course starts by assuming you have yet to gain prior programming knowledge. Throughout the three modules, it addresses different programming paradigms and gets progressively harder.
Expect to hit a roadblock or two in your learning and get stuck. As the course progresses, the material gets more complex and thus requires more time, examples, and exercises. Be prepared to go back and review previously discussed concepts.
One of the challenges of making a coding course beginner-friendly is that you need to cover a lot of ground before the context of things starts to make sense. It is similar to studying theory when you're learning to drive. You can only go on a road trip if you know what the pedals do. Learning the pedals is less exciting than your road trip, but it's essential.
The introductory chapters make a point of avoiding talking about more advanced topics. However, the course will always try to remind you that these more advanced topics will be covered later.
Please don't get bogged down; read over it lightly and experiment with the examples without fully understanding them. If it doesn't make sense, make a note of it and come back to it later. Once you have progressed, return to the parts you didn't understand. They'll make more sense, then.
What you will learn in Python 101
- How to run Python scripts
- How to install Python
- Introduction to Visual Studio Code (VSCode)
- How to use the Python terminal
- Introduction to programming
- Python pseudocode
- Python commenting
- Python
passkeyword - Python
print()function - Python variables
- Python variable assignment & naming rules
- Python keywords
- Python data types
- Python null values
- Python float and integer
- Python type conversion
- Python strings
- Python string concatenation
- Python erros and messages
- Python string indices
- String slicing in Python
- Python string methods
- Python string immutability
- Python substrings
- Python operators
- Python assignment operator
- Python arithmetic operators
- Python membership operator
- Boolean values in Python
- Python relational operators
- Python logical operators
- Python is and is not operators
- Python operators precedence
- Python conditional statements
- Python if statements
- Python if/else statements
- Python elif statement
- Python for loop
- Python range function
- Python nested for loops
- Python user input
- Python while loop
- Python continue & break statements
- String formatting in Python
- Python libraries, modules, and packages
- Python pathlib
- Python list files in fdirectory
- Python replace
- Working with Git & GitHub
- Python documentation and README
- Next step: Go to Python 201
Why Learn Python?
Python is still one of the world's most widely used programming languages, as it has been for decades. It is used to build applications that span the software development ecosystem. Python is strong, fast, reliable, and consistent. Python also has a robust global community. There are many job openings for Python developers.
Who is This Course For?
This course is for people who have no previous experience with Python. This course also assumes you have no prior programming experience. This course is for those who are just getting started. If you already have some Python experience or programming experience in another language, feel free to breeze through sections of this course that you're already familiar with.
What are the Prerequisites for Python 101?
There are no prerequisites for Python 101.
How Long Does this Course Take?
Over the years, we have found that completing the entire Python Programming series (101, 201, and 301) requires ~200-250 hours to complete. Therefore, if you're dedicating 20 hours a week to study and practice, you can expect the entire series to require ~10-15 weeks to complete. Python 101 is the first of three courses in this series and typically requires ~75 hours to complete - or roughly one month at ~20 hours per week.
Is Python Hard to Learn?
Yes and no. It depends a lot on how much time and enthusiasm you have. It can be hard, like learning anything that's new to you. Similarly, if you put in the time and the effort, then you can do it. If you're new to programming, then Python is one of the less complicated languages to get started.
How is this Course Structured?
This course is divided into various sections or chapters that build on each other. Within each section, there are several subsections. Each subsection speaks to a new concept. Typically, for each concept, you'll read a page of documentation with examples, then you'll watch a video demonstrating these concepts, and then you'll be prompted to do a variety of exercises and challenges. We call this "Read, Watch, Do". We stick to this pattern as much as possible. Our goal is to help you iterate over the concepts in a variety of different ways to be able to understand them better and quickly.
Are There Assignments & Challenges?
Yes. We call them "labs". Throughout each course, and at the end of nearly each course section, you will be asked to complete a number of labs. These are challenges that help you build the skills you've just read about and watched videos about. The labs grow in complexity as you proceed through the courses. At various points in the course, you will also be prompted to build out larger applications that tie in multiple new skills you've covered. At the end of the Python Programming Series, you will also be asked to create a larger capstone project demonstrating your knowledge and abilities with Python.
What Will I Be Able To Do After This Course?
After this course, you will know about the foundations of Python, basic data types, conditional statements, loops, fundamental Python concepts, and so forth. This course is a fundamentals course that leads into more advanced courses. After this course, you will not yet be able to build complex modern software applications. But you'll be well on your way! A general marker for where you are in the overall journey after finishing Python 101 is about 10-15% of the way there. After you finish the entire Python 101, 201, and 301 Programming Series, you'll be about 50% of the way there. The advanced courses such as Data Science and Machine Learning, Deep Learning & Neural Networks, Django Web Framework (Python), and Flask Web Framework (Python) all follow the Python 101-301 series. It is these more advanced courses that start to elevate you to a professional level.
Can I Get A Job as a Developer After This Course?
Not yet. Please see the previous section, "What Will I Be Able To Do After This Course?".
Does this Course Include a Python certification?
Yes. If you are a Premium Member or a mentored student with CodingNomads, you will receive a Python 101 Certificate of Completion after completing this course.
Summary: About Python 101
- This course is designed for beginners
- This is an introductory course leading into Python 201, Python 301, and more advanced courses on data science and web development.
- Topics covered include:
- see long list above
- This course follows a "read -> watch -> do" strategy to help you learn concepts in a variety of different ways
- Python 101 requires ~75 hours to complete. The entire Python Programming Series (101, 201, and 301) requires 200-250 hours to complete.
- The next course in this series is Python 201 - Procedural Python