Chapter 1

Introduction to
Programming
CHAPTER
1

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this chapter, the reader will be familiar with the
following concepts.

• Become familiar with the terminologies used in programming

languages and coding.

• Acquire a fundamental understanding of programming and software.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Know how interpreters and compilers facilitate collaboration between
a computer’s hardware and software in the system’s architecture.

• Overview of the Python Integrated and Learning Environment.

• Ability to use Python as a scripting language.

• Provide awareness about Python programming resources.

• Overview of Python documentation and Support.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Basics of Programming Language
• Problem-solving skill involves identifying issues, formulating
problems, devising solutions, and communicating them

• Computer program is a comprehensive, step-by-step set of

instructions that tells a computer exactly what it should be doing.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
• Coding Mechanism-Coding guarantees that a computer’s software
and hardware can connect by compiling the code into assembly
language.

• High-level and assembly-level languages are then converted into

binary coded signals (1’s and 0’s) to allow computational hardware
and software to communicate.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
• Learning to code is crucial because it enhances problem-solving and
logic abilities, leverages technology to power business operations, and
facilitates fine-tuning.

• Learning to code leads to better job prospects.

• Programmers make apps, websites, and other digital products that

change how people live worldwide.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
1.2 Programming Versus Software
• “Programming” involves giving the computer the instructions and data it
needs on time.

• Programming Mechanism-The process of programming is intricate.

Programming is done in phases, such as composing problem statements,
drawing flowcharts, designing coding algorithms, writing a computer
program, analyzing and evaluating software, technical writing, keeping
software up to date, and so on.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
• Computer software is a set of program instructions.

• An algorithm is a set of instructions explaining how a particular

computation should be performed in detail.

• A programming language is a language for writing down the

instructions that a computer will follow. It has a structure of syntax
(precise form) and semantics (actual meaning).

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
• There are two types of languages, namely low-level languages and high-
level languages.

• Computer hardware's can only run programs written in low-level

languages/machine languages/ assembly languages.

• A computer program is a series of instructions written in a high-level

language to solve a problem.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
1.3 Python Programming Language

Characteristics of Python Programming Language

• an open-source, high-level, interpreted, general-purpose, dynamic

programming language

• relatively easy to pick up and use.

• Extensive libraries are available

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
• flexibility as a programming language means it can also be used as an
add-on to make highly customizable programs.

• Cross-platform language

• Software quality.

• Python data types are strongly and dynamically typed.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
• embedded easily into any application to provide a programmable
interface.

• Developer productivity.

• Python’s rapid edit-test-debug cycle and lack of a compilation step

make development and debugging much more efficient.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
 Table 1.1: Object Oriented Programming Vs.
Procedural Programming Vs. Functional Programming
Limitations of Python

• Speed is an issue. As Python is an interpreted language, it is slower

than compiled languages.

• Design restrictions. The dynamically typed language comes with

errors only at runtime; Python’s global interpreter lock and whitespace
are a few design issues.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
1.3.2 Implementations Using Python

• utilized for database access, Internet scripting, distributed

programming, and extension-language works.

• used as Graphical User Interfaces (GUI), shell tools -system admin

tools, and command line programs.

• language-based modules -instead of special-purpose parsers.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
1.3.2 Implementations Using Python
• helpful for rapid prototyping and development.

• used in Web Application development,

• building desktop GUIs,

• Email Parsing,

• Network programs,

• Desktop applications,

• Internet Protocol,

• System administration, and

• Video Games Development.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
1.4 Compiler Versus Interpreter

Fig. 1.2: The Process of Creating a Computer Program

• Compiler (Fig 1.3) meticulously scans and converts the source code before
launching the program. In this perspective, the high-level program is called
the source code, and the translated program is called the object code or the
executable. Compiling a program allows users to run it repeatedly without
retranslating it each time. A hardware executor can then run the compiled
object code.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
Fig. 1.3: Structure of a Compiler
Fig. 1.4: High-Level Block diagram of an Interpreter
Fig. 1.5: Python Interpreter
• Table 1.2: Comparison of Compiler and Interpreter

Table 1.2: Comparison of Compiler and Interpreter

1.5 Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

• IDLE stands for Interactive DeveLopment [Link], as an

interpreter, translates the code into a language the computer can
understand.

• Python’s default implementation, IDLE (“Integrated Development and

Learning Environment”), includes the complete set of IDE packages
and fundamentals.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
1.5.1 Python in interactive mode
(windows OS)
• Shell or Interactive shell or Interactive Interpreter- The Python IDLE
instantly launches a Python shell, saving time.

• It is a Read-Eval-Print Loop (REPL). It reads every statement,

evaluates, and displays a Python statement.

• Code snippets can be run in Python’s Interpreter shell

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
1.5.2 Python in script mode

• A Python script or program is read line by line and executed when run
in script mode.

• In script mode, code can be written in a standalone file (ending [Link])

and run independently.

• These lines of code are easily modifiable and reusable.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
Fig. 1.11: Python shell -File Drop
Down Menu
Fig. 1.12: Screenshot of the Python editor
Fig. 1.13: Screenshot of saving the file
[Link]
Fig. 1.14: Screenshot showing the run
module or F5 button
Fig. 1.15: Screenshot showing the output display of the program([Link])
Fig.1.16: Screenshot showing the output of the program in the
Windows PowerShell
• Common Python syntax colours: Colour coding in IDLE aids in
understanding the meaning so that one can easily visualize the
mistakes made.

• Keywords in orange colour

• Strings in green colour

• Comments in red colour

• Definitions in blue colour

• Misc. Words in black colour

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
1.5.3 Command Line Interpreter

• Command Line Interpreter (CLI), Console User Interface (CUI),

command processor, shell, command line shell, and command
interpreter.

• A command line interpreter, also known as a console or shell, takes

user input (typically in the form of a single command) and applies it to
the system.

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
• In the absence of errors, it executes the command and returns the
expected data; otherwise, an error message is displayed.

Fig. 1.17: Python command prompt

1.6 Various Resources for Python
Programming
• Sublime Text 3

• Notepad++

• Atom

• Visual Studio Code

• Vim

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
Python IDLE Editor

• Spyder

• Thonny

• PyCharm

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION
Getting Help in Python

• Python Official Website: [Link]

• Python Documentation Website: [Link]

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION