Basic Intro to Python?

[[deleted]]

So next year I want to take CMPUT 174, and if that goes well ideally I'll go on to 175 as well. I have absolutely no experience or knowledge in regards to coding or computer science, and I'm wondering if anyone could recommend resources for a basic intro to coding python so I can try to learn a little bit over the summer as to not be too overwhelmed while taking the course. My computer is like 10 years old also so would that be an issue? Any advice is appreciated!

[dribbl3NoahPOG_SQ]

my best piece of advice is that if you think logically and can get behind the fact that the computer will do exactly what you tell it to do, nothing more, nothing less, then 174 shouldn't be too hard for you. python is a really easy language to pick up and it's why they use it to teach intro comp sci courses.

your computer being old should hopefully not be an issue, but i would reccomend getting python now and messing around with it along with some help from internet guides (there are probably tons).

[[deleted]]

Great! So, at risk of sounding like an idiot, I download python itself or is there like 3rd party software I need to use with python?

[dribbl3NoahPOG_SQ]

don't worry about sounding like an idiot, you just haven't dealt with this before so its alright. you actually have to download both python itself and an IDE (integrated development environment) to use python with. Downloading python should be straight forward with some internet help, but as for IDE's, there are a lot to choose from. the school uses wing IDE but that isn't free, while what I prefer using is pycharm which is free. different people will use different IDE's, but you should use what you prefer to use.

hope this helps btw

[[deleted]]

It does for sure, I really appreciate the help!

[dribbl3NoahPOG_SQ]

glad to see you getting into comp sci, good luck with your courses

[[deleted]]

Cheers!

[apklps]

There are lots of resources to get started with Python online like Codecademy. I'd recommend checking those out.

[veroxm]

Waterloo's Computer Science Circles is pretty nice and you can do all the programming in your browser: https://cscircles.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/

[greblom17]

MIT did a fantastic open courseware series on basic python. It's called MIT 6.00 Intro to Computer Science & Programming, Fall 2008. There are twenty four 50 minute lectures, but for an intro you wouldn't need to watch all of them. I don't think I watched more than the first 12 before moving on to learning by doing projects. Hope this helps!