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Luca Gemma

Are you looking for a simple and effective Python course, created by someone who has been mastering Python for years? You've found it.

I designed this course after teaching programming to hundreds of people, leveraging the experience from my teaching and consulting work to develop a learning path that is simple, clear, and covers all the essential concepts for beginners in programming. For those who want to learn programming in the quickest and most focused way, a clear approach and practical, targeted content are crucial—and that's exactly what I've included in this course.

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Are you looking for a simple and effective Python course, created by someone who has been mastering Python for years? You've found it.

I designed this course after teaching programming to hundreds of people, leveraging the experience from my teaching and consulting work to develop a learning path that is simple, clear, and covers all the essential concepts for beginners in programming. For those who want to learn programming in the quickest and most focused way, a clear approach and practical, targeted content are crucial—and that's exactly what I've included in this course.

Don't worry, this isn't just another course filled with hours of theory packaged and sold as "indispensable." The theory in this course is minimal, just enough to introduce the most important aspect of programming: practice.

To become an excellent programmer, the formula is straightforward: practice, practice, and more practice.

That's why I've enriched this course with numerous exercises to test what you've learned after each section. And don't worry—you'll also get my proposed solutions for each exercise, presented clearly and in detail in dedicated videos.

Programming in Python can be simple for you, and it will be with this course. We'll start by exploring one of the most effective and widely used tools for Python programming: Google Colab. You won’t need to install anything, and all your projects will be accessible from any device—you could even code from your smartphone.

Next, we'll dive into the main data types used in Python. We’ll create numerical variables with int and float, define textual variables with strings, use heterogeneous containers with lists and discover the incredible simplicity and clarity of dictionaries.

I’ll show you the most important concepts for data structures, such as indexing to access specific elements, slicing to select multiple elements, and even concatenation to create new variables by combining two or more others.

Then, we’ll move on to execution control, covering operators and expressions. You'll learn how to build arithmetic expressions and, most importantly, essential logical expressions using comparison operators. We’ll create complex conditions with the and, or, and not operators and see how all of this is used to create any type of logic, bringing intelligence to our code with the if statement by building our own thermostat.

Next, we'll explore how to repeat instructions using the indispensable for and while loops, and even how to create complex loops and modify their behavior with control statements like break and continue.

We’ll conclude this valuable journey by diving into functions—a concept every programmer must know and use in every program they create. You’ll write your first function to execute, like uttering a magic word, any instructions you want. I’ll also show you how to use functions effectively.

Everything you need to start programming in Python is here. Start now and become a programmer.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Reading and understanding python code
  • Writing python code
  • Coding algorithms of simple and intermediate complexity
  • Knowing and using the most common data types
  • Knowing and using the if conditional statement
  • Knowing and using loops and control statements
  • Knowing and using functions
  • Following the good practice of coding

Syllabus

Write your first Python program!

Let's get to know Google Colab as a tool for writing Python code. Everything at your fingertips!

Write your first code, run it with Google Colab, and see what you've just created!

Read more

Let's talk about numeric data types, starting with the int type for integer variables!

I'll show you how to print to the screen effectively and intuitively!

Let's continue with numeric data types by discussing float to represent decimal numbers.

Let's start exploring data structures by talking about strings to represent text!

Again about strings with the indexing to access a single element!

Let's continue talking about strings and explore what slicing is and how it helps us select multiple elements within them!

We’ll wrap up the string section by discussing concatenation, which lets you create a new string from two or more existing strings.

Let's get to know lists to store any type of data!

Let's see how indexing can also be used with lists!

Let's see how even slicing can be used with lists!

And finally about concatenation with lists!

The last data structure, but definitely not the least important! Let’s get to know dictionaries and how they help make our code clear and readable!

Learn how to add or remove elements from dictionary!

Let's see how to add or remove element from lists too!

Here's how you can download and upload the notebooks (both theory and exercises) that I share with you into Google Colab.

Here it is my notebook about Data types and Data stuctures!

Challenge yourself with these exercises about Data types and Data structures!

And here are my solutions to the previous exercises!

Let's start discussing operators with arithmetic operators! Create your arithmetic expressions between numeric variables using each of these operators!

Again about arithmetic operators!

Learn how to use comparison operators to build logical expressions!

Let's build complex logical expressions by combining them with the and, or, and not operators!

Now things get really serious: the if statement allows us to give intelligence to our code!

Learn how to add one or more conditions to an if statement!

What about a default case? Meet the else keyword!

Let’s introduce loops by discussing the while loop, but be careful not to fall into an infinite loop!

Let’s continue with loops by exploring the for loop, using it to iterate over any iterable in a simple and intuitive way!

Discover how to alter the normal execution of a while or for loop using the control statements break and continue!

Sometimes a for loop is better than a while loop—find out when!

Here is my notebook about Execution control!

Test yourself with exercises on Execution Control!

Let’s get to know functions, a powerful tool every programmer must learn to use!

Let’s see how to enable a function to return a value, a variable, or even the result of an expression!

I’ll show you two ways to call a function: using positional arguments and using keywords. A must-know!

Learn how to specify default values for one or more parameters of a function!

Here is my notebook about Functions!

Challenge yourself with exercises about Functions!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Uses Google Colab, which allows learners to write and run Python code without needing to install anything on their computers, making it very accessible
Covers core data types like integers, floats, strings, lists, and dictionaries, which are fundamental for any aspiring Python programmer to understand and utilize
Includes numerous exercises with detailed video solutions, reinforcing learning through practice, which is essential for mastering programming concepts and building confidence
Explores execution control with operators, if statements, and loops, which are crucial for creating logic and controlling the flow of programs, enabling learners to build interactive applications
Teaches functions, which are essential for code reusability and organization, allowing learners to write modular and maintainable programs, a key skill for any programmer
Requires learners to download and upload notebooks into Google Colab, which may be a barrier for some learners who are not familiar with cloud-based development environments

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Reviews summary

Python basics: clear and practical start

According to learners, this course is a perfect starting point for absolute beginners with no prior coding experience. Students consistently highlight the clear and simple explanations provided by the instructor, making foundational Python concepts easy to grasp. The course includes helpful hands-on exercises that learners found effective for solidifying their understanding and applying what they learned. Using Google Colab for coding was praised for its convenience, eliminating the need for complex setup. While learners agree it strictly covers the basics, aligning with the course title, some note it might move at a slow pace for those with prior experience and doesn't delve into more advanced topics.
May feel slow for those with experience.
"If you've touched coding before, the first few sections might feel a bit slow."
"I had some prior programming knowledge, and parts of the course reviewed things I already knew."
"This course is definitely aimed at complete novices; prior learners might find the pace deliberate."
"Someone with a little bit of Python experience might find the initial lessons repetitive."
Covers only fundamental Python essentials.
"While excellent for basics, this course doesn't go beyond the absolute fundamentals of Python."
"It covers exactly what the title says, 'basics,' so don't expect to learn about libraries or frameworks."
"I finished feeling like I had a solid foundation but knew I'd need another course for more advanced topics."
"This course is strictly for beginners and doesn't cover intermediate or advanced topics."
No complicated setup required.
"Using Google Colab meant I didn't have to worry about installing anything, which made starting easy."
"I appreciated being able to just jump into coding right away using Google Colab."
"The Colab setup was seamless; I could code from anywhere."
"Not having to deal with environment setup was a big plus for a beginner."
Instructor explains concepts effectively.
"The instructor does a great job explaining complex ideas in a simple, digestible way."
"I found the lectures easy to follow thanks to the instructor's clear teaching style."
"He breaks things down step-by-step, which is perfect for someone just starting out."
"His explanations were concise and easy to understand."
Exercises solidify understanding of concepts.
"The exercises after each section were crucial for practicing and remembering what was taught."
"I really liked the hands-on coding exercises; they helped confirm I understood the material."
"Solving the practical problems after each lecture made a huge difference in my learning."
"The exercises were well-structured and applied the concepts covered in the videos."
Excellent starting point for new coders.
"This course was exactly what I needed to start my programming journey. Everything was explained clearly."
"As someone completely new to Python, I found this course incredibly easy to follow and understand."
"I had zero prior coding experience, and this course made learning Python basics simple and accessible."
"It's definitely geared towards people who are starting from scratch, which was perfect for me."
Some reviews note occasional glitches.
"A couple of times, the audio quality seemed a little off."
"Found a small typo in one of the exercise descriptions."
"Sometimes the video player was a bit laggy, but the content was fine."

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 Basics: Start from Zero and Master the Essentials with these activities:
Review Basic Math Concepts
Reinforce foundational math skills to better understand numerical operations in Python.
Browse courses on Arithmetic Operations
Show steps
  • Familiarize yourself with order of operations.
  • Review addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
  • Practice solving basic arithmetic problems.
Read 'Python Crash Course'
Supplement course material with a comprehensive guide to Python fundamentals and project-based learning.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters covering basic data types and control flow.
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Practice CodingBat Exercises
Sharpen coding skills by solving targeted exercises on CodingBat to reinforce concepts learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Solve exercises in the 'Warmup-1' and 'Warmup-2' sections.
  • Attempt exercises in the 'String-1' and 'List-1' sections.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Dive into Python
Expand your knowledge with a more in-depth exploration of Python's features and capabilities.
View Dive Into Python 3 on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read chapters on data structures and algorithms.
  • Experiment with the code examples provided in the book.
Create a Python Cheat Sheet
Consolidate knowledge by creating a cheat sheet summarizing key Python syntax and concepts covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Summarize data types, operators, and control flow statements.
  • Include examples of common Python functions and methods.
  • Organize the cheat sheet for easy reference.
Build a Simple Calculator
Apply learned concepts by building a calculator program that performs basic arithmetic operations.
Show steps
  • Design the calculator's user interface.
  • Implement functions for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
  • Handle user input and display results.
Help Others on Forums
Reinforce your understanding by helping other students on online forums.
Show steps
  • Find a Python forum or community.
  • Answer questions from other learners.
  • Explain concepts in your own words.

Career center

Learners who complete Python Basics: Start from Zero and Master the Essentials will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Data Analyst
A data analyst examines and interprets data to identify trends and patterns. This role often involves using programming languages to clean, manipulate, and analyze large datasets. Python, an accessible and powerful language, is used for data analysis. This course provides a foundation in Python, covering data types, control flow, and functions, which helps develop the skills to perform data analysis tasks efficiently. A data analyst should learn about data types by taking this course. You will get to know how to properly use dictionaries.
Software Developer
A software developer designs, develops, and tests software applications. Python is a versatile language used in various software development areas, from web applications to scripting. The course introduces fundamental programming concepts in Python, including data structures, loops, and functions. This course helps aspiring software developers build a foundation in coding logic and problem-solving. Software developers should know how to implement functions, and this course will show you how. This course is specifically good for those with no experience.
Automation Engineer
An automation engineer designs and implements automated systems and processes. Python is frequently used to write scripts that automate tasks, configure systems, and streamline workflows. This course covers the essentials of Python syntax, control flow, and functions, which allows automation engineers to write effective automation scripts. Understanding loops and conditional statements is essential for task automation, and this course helps build that understanding. An automation engineer should start coding with this course.
Data Scientist
A data scientist uses statistical methods, machine learning, and programming to analyze data and extract insights. Python is a core tool for data science, used for data manipulation, analysis, and model deployment. The course introduces Python basics, data structures, and control flow. It helps data scientists write scripts for data analysis and preprocessing. This course covers the essentials of Python syntax, control flow, and functions, which helps data scientists build a strong programming foundation. A data scientist should learn about functions in this course.
Web Developer
A web developer builds and maintains websites and web applications. Python is used in web development through frameworks like Django and Flask. These are used on the server-side to handle requests, manage databases, and render content. This course provides a beginners foundation in Python programming concepts, data structures, and control flow. This gives a Web Developer the foundation they need. Conditional statements will be very useful for the developer.
Database Administrator
A database administrator manages and maintains databases. Python can be used to automate database tasks, create scripts for data migration, and monitor database performance. This course introduces the fundamentals of Python programming, including data types, loops, and functions, which helps database administrators write scripts to manage databases more efficiently. The course will allow them to automate tasks. A database administrator may find the discussion of loops very helpful.
Quality Assurance Engineer
A quality assurance engineer tests software to ensure it meets quality standards. Python is used to write automated tests and create testing frameworks. The course introduces Python basics, data structures, and control flow, which helps write efficient test scripts. QA Engineers can benefit from the course. A quality assurance engineer should learn how to read and write python code.
Machine Learning Engineer
A machine learning engineer develops and deploys machine learning models. Python is the primary language for machine learning, used with libraries like scikit-learn, TensorFlow, and PyTorch. This course introduces Python basics, data structures, and control flow, allowing machine learning engineers to write data preprocessing and model training scripts. Machine learning engineers can prepare to learn data analysis by learning how to manage dictionaries.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer automates and streamlines software development and deployment processes. Python is used to write automation scripts, configure servers, and manage infrastructure. This course helps DevOps engineers build a solid foundation in Python, covering data types, loops, and functions. This course will allow them to automate tasks. As a DevOps Engineer, you can use those if statements to bring intelligence to your code.
Technical Writer
A technical writer creates documentation for software and technical products. While not directly coding, understanding the basics of programming, especially Python, is helpful for documenting code and explaining technical concepts. This course introduces programming concepts in Python, including data structures, loops, and functions, which helps understand and explain software functionality. Understanding Python code will help you as a technical writer.
IT Support Specialist
An IT support specialist provides technical assistance to users. Python can be used to automate common IT tasks, such as system monitoring, log analysis, and script execution. This course introduces the fundamentals of Python, including control flow and functions, enabling the development of scripts. An IT Support Specialist may find the use of loops very helpful to automate tasks. Use loops to repeat instructions.
Research Assistant
A research assistant supports research projects, often involving data collection and analysis. Python can be used to automate data processing, perform statistical analysis, and create visualizations. This course introduces Python basics, data types, and control flow, which enables research assistants to write scripts that analyze data efficiently. The knowledge of common data types in this course may be useful. Coding algorithms of simple complexity may be needed.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst studies market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. Python's analysis capabilities can be employed to identify new trends. The course provides a foundation in Python, covering data types, control flow, and functions. This aids in the efficient execution of market analysis tasks. This course explores one of the most effective tools for Python, so it will be a great tool for a market research analyst. You will also get to know lists.
Business Analyst
A business analyst identifies business needs and recommends solutions. Python can be used to analyze data, automate tasks, and create reports. This course introduces Python basics, control flow, and functions, which helps business analysts write scripts that analyze data and automate tasks. The Business Analyst may find the discussion of functions very helpful. Learn to use print statements to gain insights.
Financial Analyst
A financial analyst provides guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. Python is used for financial modeling, data analysis, and algorithmic trading. This course introduces the fundamentals of Python, including data types, loops, and functions, which helps write scripts for financial analysis. The financial analyst may find the use of loops very helpful. Learn how to build aritmetic operators.

Reading list

We've selected two 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 Basics: Start from Zero and Master the Essentials.
Provides a project-based introduction to Python, making it an excellent resource for beginners. It covers the fundamentals of Python programming in a clear and concise manner. The hands-on projects help solidify understanding and build practical skills. It is commonly used as a textbook for introductory Python courses.
Good resource for those who want to dive deeper into Python. It covers more advanced topics and provides practical examples. It is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference. It is helpful in providing background and prerequisite knowledge.

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