Beginner's Guide to Python
New to programming? Python is free, and easy to learn
if you know where to start! This guide will help you to get started
quickly.
New to Python?
Read BeginnersGuide/Overview
for a short explanation of what Python is.
Getting Python
Next, install the Python
interpreter on your computer. This
is the program that reads Python programs and carries out their instructions; you need it before you
can do any Python programming. See BeginnersGuide/Download
for instructions for
downloading the correct version of Python. At some stage, you'll want to edit and save your program
code. Take a look at HowToEditPythonCode
for some advice and recommendations.
Learning Python
Next, read a tutorial and try
some simple experiments with your new Python interpreter. Most
tutorials assume you know how to run a program on your computer. If you are using Windows and need
help with this, see How
do I Run a Program Under Windows. Once you've
read a tutorial, you can browse through Python's
online documentation. It
includes a tutorial
that may be helpful, a Library Reference
that lists all of the modules that come standard with Python, and the Language Reference for a
complete (if rather dry) explanation of Python's syntax. When you are ready to write your first program you will
need a text editor. To get
started you can use any editor you are familiar with - even something
like Notepad - but as you gain experience you may want to use a text
editor with features that help you write Python programs. See PythonEditors for a
list of programs friendly to Python code editing.
Need Help?
Need help with any of this? Read BeginnersGuide/Help
for mailing lists and newsgroups. Most Python
books will include an introduction to the language; see IntroductoryBooks
for suggested titles. Consult BeginnersGuide/Examples
for small programs and little
snippets of code that can help you learn. Or, if you prefer to learn Python through listening to a
lecture, you can attend a
training course or even hire a trainer to come to your company. Consult the PythonEvents page to
see if any training courses are scheduled in your area, and the PythonTraining
page for a list of trainers. Teachers can
join the EDU-SIG,
a mailing list for discussion of Python's use in teaching at any level
ranging from K-12 up to university.
Complete list of
Beginner's Guide pages
Looking
for a particular Python module or application?
The first place to look
is the Python Package
Index. - If you can't
find anything relevant in the Package Index,
try searching python.org - you can find anything mentioned on the
Python site, in the FAQs, or in the newsgroup. More info: where to search. Next, try Google or other search engine of your choice. Searching for "python"
and some relevant keywords will usually find something helpful. - Finally, you can try posting a query to the
comp.lang.python Usenet group.
Want to contribute?
Python is a product of
the Python Software
Foundation, a non-profit organization that holds the copyright. Donations to
the PSF are tax-deductible in the USA, and you can donate via credit
card or PayPal. To report a bug in the Python core, use
the Python
Bug Tracker at SourceForge.
To
contribute a bug fix or other patch to the Python core, read the Python Developer's Guide
for more information about Python's development process. To contribute to the official Python documentation,
join the Documentation
SIG, write to docs@python.org,
or use the Patch
Manager to contribute a documentation patch. To announce your module or application
to the Python community, use comp.lang.python.announce. See
the
guide to Python mailing lists for more information. To propose changes to the python core,
post your thoughts to comp.lang.python.
If you have an implementation, follow the Python Patch Guidelines.
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