A hands-on introduction to Python for beginning programmers

Jessica McKellar
pyvideo.org/video/1850/a-hands...
us.pycon.org/2013/schedule/pr...
Beginning programmers: welcome to PyCon! Jumpstart your Python and programming careers with this 3-hour interactive tutorial. By the end, you'll have hands-on exposure to many core programming concepts, be able to write useful Python programs, and have a roadmap for continuing to learn and practice programming in Python. This class assumes no prior programming experience.

[@laarags]

Too much respect for the old man who wants to learn programming. Good luck, sir

[@Adriano70911]

+samir wanderung lol its just few weeks and u are learned

[@ouldasahra2533]

+samir wanderung He is not that old. Maybe he is doing some researches and need an easy programming language. Furthermore for knowledge there is no limit for age.

[@User-vd9lu]

+Ould Asahra yeah and to comment there is no limit for "awesome"ness

[@raad1131]

I'm 12...

[@manoelluisnetosilva5987]

you'll be rich someday, don't worry

[@AlexanderAndreassen123]

I was close to giving up on learning programming, but her comments about "programmers don't remember anything and just search stuff on google" really reassured me. I suck at retaining information effectively.

[@AlqGo]

Usually what programmers struggle to recall are libraries. However, stuffs like language syntax, design patterns, common algorithms, network programming, operating system, multiple processes, threads, file, and to a lesser extent, databases, usually to some degree, stay stuck in the mind of a programmer. In fact, those stuffs are essential programming knowledge and are expected of a software developer.

[@nick18303]

How did tht go for u ? It’s been 5years since u commented

[@AlexanderAndreassen123]

@@nick18303 I gave up programming entirely, haha. Went to university for economics and leadership instead!

[@nick18303]

@@AlexanderAndreassen123 lol thats funny.. and here I am just starting haha. all the best

[@taur611]

It's sad that a great video like this only has 92k hits, but something useless and idiotic can get millions of hits. Thank you for posting this.

[@xultrainkaos9094]

Good point.

[@Rolltide101x]

Agreed

[@nawinjinx]

Preach it

[@ruthlessadmin]

You basically just hit on everything that is wrong with this world.

[@casperhadez8941]

I have had no issues learning from the internet regarding C++, you just have to select your material correctly. You do not need college thats a load of crap.

[@Eddie-hv4yq]

Excellent introduction to Python! Jessica you have a gift for delivering these topics in such a straightforward and matter of fact manner. You make the audience want to stay tuned. I look forward to seeing more videos. Thanks!

[@johnsyboyo]

The most helpful tutorial I've seen on an introduction to python for beginners. She's clear and concise. Wish I found this sooner! Great video

[@animus6682]

Honestly, I have seen numerous python beginner tutorials till now! I think till now this is the best and the most simplistic one !!! Thank you a lot for posting this video !!! Worths a lot !!!

[@Ravicgsce]

Jessica this is an amazing intro to Python, thank you very much for this effort. Keep sharing, Keep Helping people. Good Job.

[@supermalavox]

Two things made me want to start learning Python, and both of them are related to accessibility: 1) Not only do I know an audio game made in Python (SoundRTS), but also the screen reader that I use for being blind (NVDA) is made in python and open source. 2) Also, I am thinking about learning how to program to try to make skills for one of the 2 virtual assistants I have access to: Google or Alexa! Anyway, 99% of Jessica's lesson was audiodescribed, since she spoke nearly everything she was showing. So that was great! By the way, I use VS Code as a Python interpreter. It has good accessibility, so it is blind-friendly!

[@georginagraham5809]

Didnt know Python could be fun to learn untill i came across your video! Awesome work Jessica! I've learnt a lot in less 2 hours than 4 weeks of attending python class as a beginner!

[@ngaruamwangi9107]

This is amazing, I am learning so much, who knows what I would end up becoming after this...Thanks a lot Jess

[@JoachimderZweite]

The thing I love about this instructor is that I can repeat endlessly in KZbin and she does not get impatient with me. I wish there were functions to throw more light on not very bright seniors and also would speed up slow learners. .....Thanks!

[@montpelier42d]

As a Python programmer, this is a brilliant lecture - wish I'd had a lecturer like this girl when I began all those years ago.

[@montpelier42d]

***** There are lots of resources on the web to teach yourself - such as this girl's brilliant lecture. However, feel free to ask me questions if you're stuck - I'd be willing to review your code. While Python is syntacially clean and superficially simple it is conceptually quite complex on the level of real programming.

[@gregoryschreiter8505]

***** codecademy has a great free and interactive intro course teaching the basics of python 2.7

[@garrysohi5623]

Please help me with best resources to learn Python quickly. It is a bit tiring to search for resources

[@rey_nemaattori]

@@garrysohi5623 Well this lecture helps, I also foudn a lecture on udemy.com, which explain even more and is including lots exercises to get the hang of the syntax, which methods are handy to know etc.

[@gbravy]

That was super helpful in getting up to speed on coding in Python. Thanks Jessica..

[@patrickaltman6907]

Thank you for giving me the basics of python Jessica. I am definitely going to review more of your work in order to make a go of python.

[@123firemasterr]

AMAZING! CANT WAIT TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND LEARN MORE CS

[@keithnisbet]

Wonderful clear intro. What a great teacher. Thanks!

[@FoodieYash]

For a reasonable piece of time I was wondering to know and learn python, But., But... after viewing and listen the video from Jessica I turned confident that now, now... I will certainly learn python. Thanks Jessica to you, your hardwork, your style of explsining python and at last but not least thanks to your commitment and dedication to teaching and training for python.

[@francesmeier1413]

Very easy to understand. I used python for the last 3 years by learning it on my own. Great to know the terminology and why things work the way they do! Great video!

[@garrysohi5623]

How did you learn it? Can you point me to the best resources to learn Python quickly?

[@christopherhumphrey]

Thank you for you're time Jessica. Very helpful.

[@Ammaray]

BTW, in Python 3.4.1 the if/elif/else statement looks like this..... >>> sister_age = 15 >>> brother_age = 15 >>> if sister_age >brother_age: print ('sister is older') elif sister_age == brother_age: print ('same age!') else: print ('brother is older') same age! >>> Thanks for the tutorial, really helps a lot!!

[@eukleyvcardoso]

How do you do the >>> for name in names: >>> print name in Python 3.4.1?

[@Ammaray]

Parentheses and quotes around anything you want to print.

[@eukleyvcardoso]

Thanks. I shouldn't put quotes though. If I do that and this happens: >>> for name in names: print("name") name name name name

[@phabtar2]

Eukleyv Cardoso in Python 3.4.1 print is treated as a function. So if you want to print the string which the name variable holds, use print(name) So the program will be : >>>for name in names: print(name)

[@casperhadez8941]

python 3 is useless right now, not enough of a following at least right now

[@garybishop4908]

You are a great speaker Jessica. Thanks for such a great video !!!

[@manoharbhatia4851]

Jessica your contents and explanations about python and clear, strong and melodious voice has developed a new and long lasting confidence in myself, all thanks to you and very humbly requesting you to keep on guiding me too to enhance and fasten my learnings in computer, machine learnings and artificial intelligence. I assure you my better and better learnings.

[@ivanchuabh]

wish my java lecturer ten years ago made things as easy as you did. great tutorial. thank you very much!!!

[@jana.2488]

This is still the best video that teaches python on the internet...thanks!!

[@shankarnarayana9471]

Awesome video jessica. i love python too. it's simply meticulous.

[@muhammadnabeel7133]

I am good at other programming languages but I was in need of a very quick and good helping material to learn Python because of not having time. After spending 3 hours on this tutorial, I can happily say, this is one of the most helping and interested tutorials I have ever seen in my life. Thank you for such an effort.

[@garrysohi5623]

Could you please help me with best resources to learn Python quickly?

[@swallowedinthesea11]

garry sohi KZbin Trevor Payne, Blank Editor, and Code Dojo. Udemy.com is great using Jose Portillo's Python course. doc.lagout.org/programmation/python/Python%20for%20Kids_%20A%20Playful%20Introduction%20to%20Programming%20%5BBriggs%202012-12-22%5D.pdf

[@MrGameengineer]

Very good presentation. Well done.

[@patrickaltman6907]

Jessica does an excellent job explaining and is clear.

[@moscovita4]

I find it impressive how someone so experient and on such an high level can teach basic stuff without talking over the heads of the audiece and be able to mention all this basic stuff, what is an intinger a string a float ...

[@theartofgiving]

Excellent intro to Python. Thanks a lot.

[@manoharbhatia4851]

it's my pleasure and good luck to find you as my teacher for learning python, I enjoyed a lot listening your explanations about python. all thanks and wish all good for you. let god shower all his blessings to you too to impart and teach more and more.

[@sendil118]

Wonderful tutor .. Great lecture Jessica .. wish they were more videos!!! by you.. Thanks

[@haribhaskar72]

Thank you very much Jessica... Excellent intro for Python.. Very useful for beginners...God Bless you for this....

[@ztormone3373]

+Hari Bhaskar agree

[@kentmcclure6513]

Well paced presentation, building information in a comfortable pace.

[@jtschemenauer9077]

I could listen to her all day.

[@TheStevrod]

Very good intro to Python programming. I'd recommend it for anybody starting out in Python.

[@davidschroeder3731]

Yeah, I started a few months ago, and this video has pretty much doubled my knowledge.

[@pchebbi]

Great lecture! Amazed by the speaker's flexibility! Despite so much of experience and mastery, you came down to beginner's level! Every word was adequately spoken, with sole purpose to help, and not to overwhelm the novice. Thank you!

[@manoharbhatia4851]

Prasanna agreef

[@manoharbhatia4851]

Prasanna I MEAN AGREED WITH YOU.

[@zentura88]

She's very good at explaining programming to lay people. Very refreshing to see a geek with this ability!

[@paeden5431]

" I don't retain information very well" teaches 2 hour course by memory... lol! Great course btw

[@tusharkuntawar6170]

If you love something, it now isn't retaining, it what you breathe in and out.

[@patrickhenry743]

Excellent Intro to Python! Thanks for sharing

[@SeanKelly2007]

She's a fantastic teacher.

[@PuneetAggarwal]

Awesome intro to Python. Thanks!!:)

[@pawanchopra6679]

Really fantastic tutorial on python.Jesicca great job..

[@spatial_smile]

Have enjoyed your lecture and it's a good tutorial. I've gained a lot thanks so much 🙏

[@yadam415]

You are a really good teacher, high five!

[@shortcutDJ]

Wow so friendly she had anticipated that there were going to be latecomers in class, and she kindly had volunteers ready to go. cool beans!

[@judisjeevan4908]

nice video..it helped me to do my programming courses and simplified my life

[@arlsffa]

Just what I needed to motivate me! Thanks...

[@DivineZeal]

Followed along on my pc. Very helpful!

[@trvelayuthan]

wow that's a good tutorial for the beginner. cheers

[@MrAkehtam]

This video taught me python, now am a Software Engineer using python.

[@darkskin84]

Job Matheka that’s amazing! Hoping I have the same fate as you.

[@MrAkehtam]

Obi Ukegbu you will get you up to speed, help you understand the basics well.

[@darkskin84]

Thanks and any other resources you used, please share. Thx again.

[@MrAkehtam]

Codecademy python course was good, but I'd really recommend codecamp and using your python skills to solve hackerank or codewars. All the best in your journey to programming, make sure you learn python until you understand it well before going to another language.

[@darkskin84]

Will do, thx for the advice!

[@BinaHejazi]

most commands/examples in this absolutely great video return syntax errors in my python 3.4!!

[@Xilosphere]

Bina Hejazi It's because she's running Python 2.7.2 and you aren't.

[@raccoonnyc]

Thanks, that helped this beginner a lot!

[@manoharbhatia4851]

Very confident presentation.

[@eiv1986]

Very very good ultra beginning tutorial and easy to follow along. Even my mother could understand this (maybe)

[@kellybritland6711]

This is a super helpful video

[@mohdazeem6787]

and i have ur 3 hours video in my phone i download that i willl watch in a day every night before sleep because am a worker

[@smithsarmn]

Great video! I love the interactive format. Noting this is Python v.2 (2.7.2). If learning via Python 3.x.x some things will be different, including the math example with division of integers. In 3.x "1 / 2" results in a float (0.5), not 0. :)

[@maximillianramirez1189]

Very good video, easy and concise.

[@jcuthbe2]

Thank you! Great tutorial.

[@prasanthr8733]

it's very awesome video for beginners.please upload more videos regarding data analytics using python program.

[@zimscriptkiddies7768]

that was an awesome presentation.

[@kurt44mg42]

At 1:43:50 To avoid duplication, insert the following code (less double quotes): "del capitals_dict[state]" in the "if" and "else" indented blocks below the respective "print" statements. Remember, like python lists, dictionaries are also mutable.

[@viveksingh6776]

She has a Great! teaching skills.. Nice video to start with. Thanks!

[@DiveNeptunes]

Great Video.. thanks!

[@yvonneperrott2458]

Well done Jessica!

[@soumadip_skyy_banerjee]

Jessica, you are awesome!!! Thanx!!! ♥

[@edwardyun2398]

Should note that this is a version 2. I'm not 100% due to my lack of knowledge. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Cheers

[@shekharaswal1939]

Hello I am from India. I like this Tutorial.

[@celtichongy]

Excellent intro.

[@beaware1052]

motivating yet great video:)

[@casperhadez8941]

great vid!

[@neothe1x]

Great class...

[@ruenoak]

This is a great video thank you

[@adityakp5649]

This video is very much helpfull for upcoming programmers

[@dilpreet111]

Excellent video

[@joeverzino]

Why is Python just coming onto the scene. I remember hearing about this language at the same time I heard about a lot of other languages, like Lisp, Basic, C, C++, Fortran, Java, Ada, etc. No doubt when MIT starts using it, that gives it some credence. There is no doubt this is the easiest language to learn for a beginner. I am glad that there is an interpreter version because it checks syntax for each line of code. You have done a fabulous job of teaching because you have shown many simple examples of each concept. Who originally wrote the Python interpreter. She/e is some smart, practical cookie!

[@DerekHohls]

+Joe Verzino "Why is Python just coming onto the scene" - is this a serious question? Python is massively and widely used ... and has been going longer than Java. Its not promoted by Big Commercial companies, but look at any non-Microsoft shop and you'll find it or Ruby being used.

[@jasonstone5727]

This course is more clear than other online courses, including the Google course. I hope to teach this subject in Jr. High Schools.

[@garrysohi5623]

Can you point me to the best resources to learn Python quickly?

[@fellowjerry]

this is a good video.. good trainer..

[@royalmaster203]

for sentence in sentence: if ("F" in sentence): counter = counter + 1 if ("f" in sentence): counter = counter + 1 print(counter)

[@apurvagunnalle1722]

Loved it!

[@denniszenanywhere]

The best hands-on Python tutorial I've seen. Unfortunately, it appears as if it's a one-time tutorial and not a regular series.

[@garrysohi5623]

What seems to be the next logical tutorial/video to follow this up with? Can you point me to the best resources to learn Python quickly?

[@swallowedinthesea11]

I've watched this riotously helpful tutorial since 2017! Thank you, Jessica!

[@betlow9497]

great teaching thanks alot!!!

[@selinatarushi7482]

just AWSOME!!!!!

[@dereknugent8547]

Many thanks for this video... I hoping that Python can surfice as a vastly improved Apple Script

[@davidschroeder3731]

I'm 14 and I'm using Python for a lot of things. I definitely found this video intriguing and useful. 👍 Thanks!

[@zafarmahmood4734]

You must be 18 now, how is your Python going? what do you do now? My son is 15 and I am recommending him to learn Python.

[@davidschroeder3731]

@@zafarmahmood4734 I'm doing great! I'm in college now for computer science at UIUC. What really got me into python was game development with pygame. Python was a great introduction to more complex computer languages, which is why I work mostly with C++ now.

[@thanaa4149]

so helpful thanks a lot!

[@joshualipovetsky2744]

Thanks for sharing!

[@mussaramadan]

Great teacher

[@mohdazeem6787]

your every word storing in my brain memory hope fully i will become a good programmer in python thanks for youtube and this pathonista who helps people to learn many languages but python will b easy if people will practice in daily life thats y i donwload a appp in my iphone and iam doing great fun with this data types haha its look easy when i create fun programs

[@royalmaster203]

for headlines in headlines: if len(headlines) > maximum_headline_length: print(headlines)

[@messianicyitzchak1596]

its a good tutorial here, i like that. but when is the advanced tutorial coming online

[@msrsooraj]

I ran into trouble when i tried to insert a row into an excel worksheet. I used openpyxl. I was told that i could do something like copying the whole sheet into a new sheet and insert the row in the process and drop the old sheet. I am not a programmer but do like to i automate certain boring tasks.

[@MASTERXGAMERMCZ]

Hello this is really good do you have any notes or documents based around this video that I will be able to use with some of my students.

[@danielpatrick3268]

Very Helpful!

[@grosgogogogt]

your if exemple of bana doesnt work in python 2.7 on linux it down'st print a thing but no error message

[@royalmaster203]

for space in sentence: if space == ' ': spaces_count += 1 print(spaces_count)

[@ScreenPrintR]

Will you have additional seminars, and if so when and where?

[@scottmiller376]

Are the hand-outs mentioned available for download as well to follow along with?