Python

• Introduction to the core concepts of computing: Problems and problem-solving
• Types of problems

  • Routine problems
  • Non-routine problems
• Method of solving computing problems

  • Algorithms
  • Heuristics
• Solvable problems

  Problems that can be solved
• Unsolvable problems


  Problems that cannot be solved
• Solution techniques of solving problems

  • Abstraction
  • Analogy
  • Brainstorming
  • Trial and error
  • Hypothesis testing
  • Reduction
  • Literal thinking
  • Means end analysis
  • Method of focal object
  • Morphological analysis
  • Research
  • Root cause analysis
  • Proof
  • Divide and conquer
• General Problem-solving process

  Identification of problem<|>Solution formulation and design<|>Implementation<|>Evaluation and refinement
• Solution formulation and design: flowchart, pseudocode, decision table, decision tree
• Implementation, evaluation and refinement
• Programming in Python
• Computer program

  A sequence of instructions written using a Computer Programming Language to perform a specified task by the computer
• Computer programming

  The act of writing computer programs
• Programming languages

  • Python
  • Java
  • C++
• Categories of programming languages

  • Machine languages (first generation languages)
  • Assembly languages (second generation languages)
  • Third generation languages
  • Fourth generation languages
  • Natural languages
• Low level languages

  Machine and assembly languages
• High level languages

  Third generation, fourth generation and natural languages
• Fundamentals of Programming

  • Programming Environment
  • Basic Syntax
  • Data Types
  • Variables
  • Keywords
  • Basic Operators
  • File I/O
  • Decision Making
  • Loops
  • Numbers
  • Characters
  • Arrays
  • Strings
  • Functions
• Programming Environment Setup

  The first step to be followed before setting on to write a program, a base/platform on top of which we can do our programming
• Our environment for this course is on Colab platform online
• Python syntax can be executed by writing directly in the Command Line
• Syntax


  The spelling and grammar of a programming language, which control which words the computer understands, which combinations of words are meaningful, and what punctuation is necessary
• Types of programming languages based on syntax

  • Text-based programming languages
  • Visual programming languages
• Syntax differences between programming languages
• Syntax errors and error checking in IDE
• Basic Syntax elements


  • Number and String (characters)
  • Keywords
  • Python Variables
  • Comments
  • Functions
  • Python Indentation
• Python Indentation

  Indentation refers to the spaces at the beginning of a code line, which in Python is very important to indicate a block of code
• Numeric types in Python

  • Integer (int)
  • Decimal (Float)
  • Complex
• String literals in Python

  Surrounded by either single quotation marks, or double quotation marks
• Strings are Arrays in Python
• Escape Character

  Used to insert characters that are illegal in a string
• Variable


  A place in computer memory where you can store values temporarily and use them later, represented as a symbol or name associated with a value and whose associated value may be changed
• What variables can represent

  • Numeric values
  • Characters
  • Character strings
  • Memory addresses
• Using variables allows the same program to process different sets of data
• Rules for Python variables

  • Must start with a letter or underscore
  • Cannot start with a number
  • Can only contain alphanumeric characters and underscores
  • Case-sensitive
• Exercises: Creating Variables, Assigning Value to Multiple Variables, Variable Output, String Concatenation, Global Variables
• Learn Python Online at https://www.w3schools.com/python/default.asp