Python Primer

This primer comprises a sequence of instructional videos and Python notebooks covering how to install Python and several integrated development environments and an introductory guide to the Python language. 

The table of contents below provides links to open the notebooks in Google Colab (from which they can also be downloaded), and to open the videos in the TAMIDS YouTube channel. 

This primer was created by Matt Hielsberg with support from Texas A&M Institute of Data Science and the Texas A&M University Department of Mathematics.

Quick Start Guide for Learning Python Without Any Software Installation

  • Obtain a Google account if you don’t already have one; this is needed to run Google Colab. When opening each notebook, you may need to agree to run the content when prompted by Colab.
  • Skip down below to the Python Language Guide and start at Chapter 4

Learning Objectives For This Python Primer

  • Learn about objects, classes and inheritance, including multiple inheritance.
  • Learn where to find tutorials, documentation on Python as well as community developed packages.
  • Use comments and learn how to incorporate them into the help system.
  • Write and evaluate expressions using variable names.
  • Use basic data structures including strings, lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries, among others.
  • Understand and use various control flow mechanisms, including looping, functions and exceptions.
  • Write functions, understand return values and argument lists, including positional and keyword arguments.
  • Understand binding and copies, as well as interning/small integer caching.
  • Learn about name resolution, blocks, scope and name spaces.
  • Find and use modules and packages.
Chapter 1

Background and Installation

Python Systems and Installation Guide
Section 1.1

Background and Installation

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Python Interpreter

Python Systems and Installation Guide
Section 2.1

Interpreter

Section 2.2

Scripts

Section 2.3

Guidelines

Chapter 3

Getting Started with Jupyter

Python Systems and Installation Guide
Section 3.1

Colab

Section 3.2

Jupyter

Chapter 4

Introduction

Python Language Guide
Section 4.1

Help, Docstrings, & Comments

Section 4.2

Calculator

Section 4.3

Comparison, Logical and Bitwise Operators

Section 4.4

Variables

Section 4.5

Strings

Section 4.5

Lists

Chapter 5

Control Flow

Python Language Guide
Section 5.1

Blocks, Indention

Section 5.2

Looping Techniques and Conditions

Section 5.3

Functions

Section 5.4

Exceptions

Section 5.5

Short-Circuit Evaluation

Chapter 6

Data Structures

Python Language Guide
Section 6.1

Lists Revisited

Section 6.2

Stacks and Queues

Section 6.3

Tuples

Section 6.4

Sets

Section 6.5

Dictionaries

Chapter 7

Names

Python Language Guide
Section 7.1

Objects

Section 7.2

Assignments Copies

Section 7.3

Small Integer Caching

Section 7.4

Name Resolution

Section 7.5

Modules Packages

Chapter 8

Classes

Python Language Guide
Section 8.1

Classes – Inheritance