1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,990 In order to get the most out of this course, there are a few things you're going to need. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,990 First of all, you need a basic understanding of programming. 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,990 This means that you need experience writing working code in a modern 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:12,990 programming language, 5 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:20,990 for example, Perl, PHP, Java, JavaScript, C++, or any modern programming 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,990 language, and you need some understanding of object-oriented programming.

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,990 If you're a premium member of the lynda.com Online Training Library, or if you're 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,990 watching this tutorial on a DVD-ROM, you have access to the exercise files used 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:09,990 throughout this title. 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:14,990 The exercise files are organized by chapter, and I suggest that you copy them to 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:16,990 your desktop and work with them from there. 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,990 Each chapter has number of files in it. 7 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,990 For example, here in the Chapter 6, there are three files, and by and large these 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:25,990 files are Python scripts code. 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,990 We'll be using these files from inside of Eclipse. 10 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,990 Eclipse is an integrated development environment, and I'll show you how to 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,990 import the files into Eclipse in the movie on installing Eclipse. 12 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,990 You do not have to use Eclipse to follow along with this title. 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,990 You can use whatever editor or whatever development environment you choose. 14 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,990 I use Eclipse because it's platform- independent, and it's portable, and it's 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,990 easy to use for teaching, but you do not have to use Eclipse to follow along in this title. 16 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,990 Whenever I open a file in this title, I start by making a copy of the file and 17 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,990 then work with the working copy. 18 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,990 I do this by dragging the file while holding down the Control key on a PC or the 19 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:11,990 Command key on a Mac and then let it go, and this will give me an opportunity to 20 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:16,990 choose a name for the copy, and I typically use the same name with a dash and the 21 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,990 name working, and end it with .PY. 22 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,990 By doing this and working with the working copy, the original files are left 23 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:29,990 unchanged, and this way you can go through the exercises again at a later time if 24 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:30,990 you choose to do that. 25 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,990 If you don't have access to the exercise files, you can follow along from 26 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,990 scratch, or with your own assets. 27 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:47,000 So, let's get started.