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Nick Walter

Python for Programmers is the course to help you get up to speed on Python quickly. If you've always wanted to check out Python this is your chance.

This course uses in-browser programming exercises to make sure you are learning as you progress through the course. After each lecture, you are presented with an exercised designed to help test your knowledge.

This course can be completed in a weekend if pursued aggressively or could be a two week course if one section is completed every day.

Don't waste time trying to figure out confusing documentation, take python for programmers and start learning now.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Create complex python scripts and programs
  • Confidently write python 3 code

Syllabus

Write your first line of Python
Welcome
Hello World
Python 2 vs 3
Read more
Mac Setup
Windows Setup
Work with the different number types in Python.
Intro
Variables and Ints
Variables and Ints Exercise
Floats
Floats Exercise
Math
Math Exercise
Advanced Math
Advanced Math Exercise
Conversion
Conversion Exercise
Outro
Conditionals
Take a deep dive into strings in Python
String Basics
String Basics Exercise
Comments and Triple Quotes
Conditionals Exercise
Escaping
Escaping Exercise
Concatenation
Concatenation Exercise
Methods and Functions
Method and Functions Exercise
Index, Characters, and Slicing
Will the code go this way? Or that way? :D
If, Else, Elif
If, Else, Elif Exercise
And and Or
And and Or Exercise
Learn the "array" of Python ;D
Make a bot to help grade tests!
Kickoff
Walkthrough
Let users use code that you write!
Input
Input Exercise
Turning Inputs Into Ints
For Loop Exercise
Try Except
Try Except Exercise
Create functions with parameters that return stuff!
While Loops
Functions
Functions Exercise
Parameters
Parameters Exercise
Advanced Parameters
Advanced Parameters Exercise
Return
Return Exercise
Lists
Lists Exercise
Advanced Lists
Advanced Lists Exercise
Tuples
Tuples Exercise
Sets
Sets Exercise
Run that code over and over and over and over...
For Loops
While Loop Exercise
Break, Continue, Else
Break, Continue, Else Exercise
Make a hangman game that you can have your friends play
Walkthrough 1
Walkthrough 2
Walkthrough 3
Walkthrough 4
Store values with a close cousin of the set
Dictionaries
Dictionaries Exercise
Advanced Dictionaries
Advanced Dictionaries Exercise
Let's take a dive into object oriented programming!

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Uses in-browser programming exercises, which allows learners to immediately apply concepts and receive feedback on their code
Covers variables, data types, conditionals, and loops, which are fundamental concepts in programming and software development
Includes exercises after each lecture, which reinforces learning and helps learners test their knowledge and retention
Explores lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries, which are essential data structures for organizing and manipulating data
Teaches object-oriented programming concepts, which are widely used in modern software development and design
Focuses on Python 3, which is the current version of the language and ensures learners are using up-to-date tools and techniques

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Python for Programmers with these activities:
Review Basic Programming Concepts
Reinforce fundamental programming concepts like variables, data types, and control flow to ensure a solid foundation before diving into Python-specific syntax.
Browse courses on Variables
Show steps
  • Review notes from previous programming courses.
  • Complete practice exercises on basic programming concepts.
  • Watch introductory videos on programming fundamentals.
Read 'Python Crash Course'
Supplement the course material with 'Python Crash Course' to gain a broader understanding of Python syntax and best practices.
Show steps
  • Read assigned chapters before each corresponding course module.
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
  • Take notes on key concepts and syntax.
Practice String Manipulation Exercises
Sharpen string manipulation skills through targeted exercises, focusing on slicing, concatenation, and methods to improve proficiency in Python string handling.
Show steps
  • Solve string-based coding challenges on platforms like HackerRank or LeetCode.
  • Experiment with different string methods in the Python interpreter.
  • Write functions to perform common string operations.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Create a Python Cheat Sheet
Compile a personalized Python cheat sheet summarizing key syntax, methods, and concepts covered in the course to serve as a quick reference guide.
Show steps
  • Review course materials and identify key concepts.
  • Organize the cheat sheet by topic.
  • Include code examples and explanations.
  • Refine and update the cheat sheet as you progress through the course.
Build a Simple Text-Based Game
Apply learned Python concepts by developing a text-based game, integrating conditionals, loops, and user input to solidify understanding and problem-solving abilities.
Show steps
  • Design the game's rules and mechanics.
  • Implement the game logic using Python code.
  • Test and debug the game thoroughly.
  • Add features to enhance the game.
Contribute to a Simple Python Project on GitHub
Gain practical experience by contributing to a beginner-friendly Python project on GitHub, learning about version control, collaboration, and real-world coding practices.
Show steps
  • Find a suitable open-source project on GitHub.
  • Fork the repository and set up a local development environment.
  • Identify a small bug or feature to work on.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Python for Programmers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Software Developer
A software developer's primary responsibility is to design, code, and test software applications. This course helps build a foundation in Python, a popular language used in software development, with a focus on practical application through in-browser exercises. The course’s modules on data types, control structures such as conditionals, loops, and functions, and object-oriented programming, are crucial for any aspiring software developer. By learning to write complex scripts and programs, you will be better prepared for the kinds of coding challenges faced daily by a software developer. This course is a great first step for those who wish to create software.
Backend Developer
Backend developers are responsible for building and maintaining the server-side logic of applications. This course helps build a foundation in Python, a popular choice for backend development, by introducing core programming concepts and practical coding exercises. The course provides hands-on experience with control structures, functions, and data structures, which backend developers use daily to facilitate data handling, manage user authentication, and create application logic. If you plan to be a backend developer, this course is a great place to begin your studies.
Web Developer
Web developers are involved in the creation and maintenance of websites and web applications. This course helps build a foundation for server-side web development using Python. Python is often used with web frameworks for tasks such as handling user data, managing databases, and building APIs. The practical exercises provided in the course help you learn how to write Python code used in web backend systems. The course provides an excellent and quick start for aspiring web developers who want hands-on coding experience to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills via practical coding experience.
Automation Engineer
Automation engineers create automated processes and systems using software. Python is frequently used for automation tasks, making this course helpful for those who wish to enter this field. The course covers core Python concepts like loops, functions, and data structures, which would be very helpful in the creation of automated solutions. The practical exercises in the course provide experience that will be useful for an automation engineer. You will learn to write complex Python scripts, which may be helpful in automating various processes in your career.
Algorithm Designer
Algorithm designers create and analyze algorithms for various applications. This course may be helpful to an aspiring algorithm designer as it will help build a foundation in Python, which is a useful language for developing and testing algorithms. By learning core concepts like variables, control flow, loops, functions, and data structures, you will be better prepared to implement and test algorithms. The course helps you develop complex programs that will be useful in your work as a algorithm designer. The in-browser coding exercises would be good practice for those that wish to enter this field.
Data Scientist
Data scientists analyze data to extract meaningful insights and guide decision-making. Python is one of the most important tools used by data scientists, and this course helps build a foundation in Python programming. This course will be beneficial in quickly developing skills in fundamental programming constructs like variables, control flow, loops, functions, and data structures and using them to build complex programs and scripts. If you want to pursue a career in data science, this course may be useful as the core skills taught are vital for success in the data science field.
Machine Learning Engineer
A machine learning engineer develops and implements machine learning models. Python is crucial in this field, and this course may be helpful because it provides a foundation in Python programming. With the course, you can learn core programming concepts like variables, control flow, loops, functions, and data structures and build complex scripts and programs. These skills are essential for any aspiring machine learning engineer. If you want to pursue a career as a machine learning engineer, this course can get you started in core Python programming that is necessary in this field.
Data Analyst
Data analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends and patterns, which is crucial for informed decision-making. This course may be helpful because it provides a foundation in Python, which is a useful language for a data analyst to know how to use. This course moves through variables, control flow, loops, functions, and data structures. The ability to develop complex scripts and programs can be applied in the daily work of a data analyst. The course's hands-on in-browser exercises may be helpful for those who wish to enter the data analysis field.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps engineers focus on streamlining the software development process, and Python is a useful language in this field for automation, scripting, and configuration management. This course may be helpful since it provides a foundation in core programming concepts like variables, control flow, loops, functions, and data structures in Python. It provides practical coding experience that is useful to the DevOps engineer. With this course, you learn to develop complex scripts, which can help a DevOps engineer in automating tasks and deployment processes.
Data Engineer
Data engineers build and manage data infrastructure, and often use Python for data processing and automation. This course helps build a foundation in Python and covers fundamental programming concepts such as control structures, functions, and data structures. The practical exercises will assist you in learning how to manage data, design data pipelines, and automate tasks, which is crucial for a data engineer. If you are planning to be a data engineer, this course may be useful to help learn core Python programming skills.
Computational Linguist
Computational linguists work on the intersection of computer science and language, and Python is a useful language for natural language processing. This course may be helpful in building a foundation in Python programming that is especially useful when dealing with language data. The course’s emphasis on variables, control flow, loops, functions, and data structures are crucial skills for the field. The course can help a computational linguist in learning how to write complex scripts that are useful in processing and analyzing language.
Quality Assurance Engineer
Quality assurance engineers focus on testing software to find bugs and ensure that software meets quality standards. This course helps build a foundation in Python, which is often used to write test scripts and automate testing processes. The course’s modules on data types, control structures, and functions are useful for writing automated tests. This course may assist the quality assurance engineer, especially in improving the quality of products and in the automation of tasks.
Game Developer
Game developers are responsible for creating video games, and this course may be helpful as Python is often used for game scripting and prototyping. This course can help you learn core concepts like variables, control flow, loops, functions, and basic object oriented programming, which are important in game script writing. The course provides practical exercises that can help build basic skills in Python, which is a very useful scripting language for many game engines. Using Python, a game developer can effectively prototype games, and this course will help you learn the basics.
Research Scientist
Research scientists conduct research in various fields. This course may be useful for research scientists who work with data or need to automate tasks. Python is often used in scientific computing and data analysis, and this course will help you build a foundation in Python programming. Here, the course covers core concepts like variables, control flow, loops, functions, and data structures. If a research scientist needs to process data or automate tasks, the ability to write complex programs in Python is very useful and this course will help you build that foundation.
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts analyze financial data to provide insights and recommendations. While not a core skill, Python is increasingly used for financial modeling and data analysis. This course may be helpful as it provides a basic understanding of Python programming, covering control structures, functions, and fundamental data structures that are relevant for processing financial data. If you hope to pursue more technical aspects of financial analysis or if you plan to develop automated solutions, this course may be a good starting point.

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Python for Programmers.
Python Crash Course fast-paced, thorough introduction to Python that will have you writing programs, solving problems, and making things that work in no time. In the first half of the book, you'll learn about basic programming concepts, such as lists, dictionaries, classes, and loops, and practice writing clean and readable code with exercises for each topic. You'll also learn how to make your programs interactive and how to test your code safely before adding it to a project. is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

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