Introduction to Python

By the end of this lesson you'll be able to write basic scripts and throw around official Python terms and ideas!

Study Tools

Traditional study tools can be pretty indispensable. You should take your good study habits and apply them here so you can learn better. Here's some ideas.

• Keep a notebook!
• Use digital flashcards.
• Save useful code snippets you find online.
• Practice code challenges.

Resources for Practice

• Python the Hard Way: This is an extremely repetitive FREE book. And that's what makes it a fantastic learning tool.
• Python Fundamentals: Great resource comes with all sample scripts that you can download and play with for yourself!

Using Jupyter

To start the notebook:

• Windows: Type "Jupyter Notebook" into the Start menu.

Linux/Mac:

• Open CLI
• Navigate to the Anaconda3 folder
• source ~/<home>/anaconda3/bin/activate
• jupyter notebook

The notebook will launch in your browser. There we can edit files and run code within them.

Jupyter shortcuts: https://www.cheatography.com/weidadeyue/cheat-sheets/jupyter-notebook/

Data Science

Terms

• signature: The returned value of a function or method.

Important methods and functions:

• .strip()
• .lower()
• set()
• .sort()

Common Terminal Commands

Windows: http://ss64.com/ps/ Unix (Mac/Linux): http://ss64.com/bash/

• man cmd # where 'cmd' is the command you want to know more about
• mkdir/rmdir
• cd
• dir
• cp/mv
• touch