Lesson List

Python?

Learn Python

0102 Understanding prerequisites for Python?

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.

0103 Using the exercise files?

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.
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0102 Understanding prerequisites for Python

1
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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.

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00:00:08,000 –> 00:00:11,990
This means that you need experience writing working code in a modern

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00:00:12,000 –> 00:00:12,990
programming language,

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00:00:13,000 –> 00:00:20,990
for example, Perl, PHP, Java, JavaScript, C++, or any modern programming

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00:00:21,000 –> 00:00:24,990
language, and you need some understanding of object-oriented programming.

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You don’t necessarily need to be an expert, but you need to at least have an

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understanding of what it is, and why it is.

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You will need to have a text editor.

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A text editor is not a word processor.

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When you edit text using a word processor, the word processor adds other

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information to the file, information about formatting, layout, fonts, things like these.

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These things will make the program not work.

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You cannot edit program code in a word processor.

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You need a plain text text editor and there are lots of them available on every platform.

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For the purposes of this course, we’re going to be using an integrated

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development environment called Eclipse for our text editor.

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You do not need to use Eclipse.

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Use whatever text editor you’re comfortable with.

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Use whatever coding environment you’re comfortable with.

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The reason that I’m using Eclipse in this course is for the purposes of instruction.

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It runs on every platform and it allows me to demonstrate running the code in

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the same environment.

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You don’t need to use an integrated environment like that.

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You can use a plain text editor.

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Finally, you’ll need a system with Python 3 installed, and I strongly recommend

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Python 3.1 or later.

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The examples in this course are using Python 3.1.

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Python 3 is a significant upgrade from Python 2.

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Code written in Python 2 will not necessarily work in Python 3, and vice versa.

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It’s essentially the same language, but there are some significant differences,

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and this course is about Python 3.

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Python 3 is easy to get and to install. Installers are available for most

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operating systems, and you can find an installer for your operating system

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at this URL.

 

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